alyram4's review against another edition
4.0
3.75/5 stars
I had trouble deciding whether to round up or not, but this book definitely did enough to give me reason to give it the 4 stars. This is clearly influenced/inspiried by Agatha Christie's [b:And Then There Were None|16299|And Then There Were None|Agatha Christie|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1391120695s/16299.jpg|3038872]. Another book that is very similar, but definitely YA, is [b:Ten|11958033|Ten|Gretchen McNeil|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1332152297s/11958033.jpg|16920256] by Gretchen McNeil. Where the former was the foundation and the most iconic, and also seemingly to have inspiried (or inspiried by) Clue (<-- tons of controversy around that). The latter is a YA take on the iconic book revolving around high schoolers on a trip. The Dark Game takes more from Christie's original novel, surrounding itself with grown up characters and the mysterious millionaire.
So, what's so different about The Dark Game compared to the others? Glad you asked! The examples of previous works were both deeply set in reality, where The Dark Game is not. The Dark Game revolves heavily on the trauma and fears each author (contestant) has, where the millionaire uses these fears against them. While I could go on about these fears, I would really spoil the book. Can't do that! I will say though, the payoff from these fears is helped greatly by the fact that each contestant is an author.
Now that brings me to the next part; my thoughts. I thought that this book could've been cut down. There were many dialogue scenes and filler that I felt had no purpose. These scenes slowed down the whole plot. Think of it like when you're watching a good horror movie, but then a random scene happens where the characters start to talk about how they regret going to a party over and over again throughout the film. The first few times it might have boosted character development and plot, but after a while it just gets redundant and boring. It becomes a way to lengthen the running time. The Dark Game did very similar things, which unfortunately seems to happen a lot in thrillers, mysteries and horror. I got extremely annoyed reading the same lines again, to the point where I could predict the next few pages, or even chapters, and just skim without missing vital information.
My next con; the batshit crazy twist. There's a twist quite early than usual in a novel like this, and it doesn't really work right away. It just feels wrong, as if the author meant to go one direction but it wasn't executed fully. As the novel goes on, the twist becomes clearer in a sense, making it seem a bit more believable in its context. However, in the end it still didn't get me all the way. There are too many unanswered questions, and ones that definitely should have been answered. I don't think the ending justified the work the author put into this twist. This twist is paramount for the entire book, so it just didn't sit right with me. With others it was probably enough, but definitely not for me.
Even though I had quite a few problems with this book, it was still enjoyable when it wasn't killing me with needless dialogue and scenes. Had those been removed or shortened, I probably would rate it higher. These issues may be more for my taste, whereas others may think it's perfect. I would possibly end up reading it again for the unique plot and devices it used, but it may be a while before I ever do.
ARC provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I had trouble deciding whether to round up or not, but this book definitely did enough to give me reason to give it the 4 stars. This is clearly influenced/inspiried by Agatha Christie's [b:And Then There Were None|16299|And Then There Were None|Agatha Christie|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1391120695s/16299.jpg|3038872]. Another book that is very similar, but definitely YA, is [b:Ten|11958033|Ten|Gretchen McNeil|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1332152297s/11958033.jpg|16920256] by Gretchen McNeil. Where the former was the foundation and the most iconic, and also seemingly to have inspiried (or inspiried by) Clue (<-- tons of controversy around that). The latter is a YA take on the iconic book revolving around high schoolers on a trip. The Dark Game takes more from Christie's original novel, surrounding itself with grown up characters and the mysterious millionaire.
So, what's so different about The Dark Game compared to the others? Glad you asked! The examples of previous works were both deeply set in reality, where The Dark Game is not. The Dark Game revolves heavily on the trauma and fears each author (contestant) has, where the millionaire uses these fears against them. While I could go on about these fears, I would really spoil the book. Can't do that! I will say though, the payoff from these fears is helped greatly by the fact that each contestant is an author.
Now that brings me to the next part; my thoughts. I thought that this book could've been cut down. There were many dialogue scenes and filler that I felt had no purpose. These scenes slowed down the whole plot. Think of it like when you're watching a good horror movie, but then a random scene happens where the characters start to talk about how they regret going to a party over and over again throughout the film. The first few times it might have boosted character development and plot, but after a while it just gets redundant and boring. It becomes a way to lengthen the running time. The Dark Game did very similar things, which unfortunately seems to happen a lot in thrillers, mysteries and horror. I got extremely annoyed reading the same lines again, to the point where I could predict the next few pages, or even chapters, and just skim without missing vital information.
My next con; the batshit crazy twist. There's a twist quite early than usual in a novel like this, and it doesn't really work right away. It just feels wrong, as if the author meant to go one direction but it wasn't executed fully. As the novel goes on, the twist becomes clearer in a sense, making it seem a bit more believable in its context. However, in the end it still didn't get me all the way. There are too many unanswered questions, and ones that definitely should have been answered. I don't think the ending justified the work the author put into this twist. This twist is paramount for the entire book, so it just didn't sit right with me. With others it was probably enough, but definitely not for me.
Even though I had quite a few problems with this book, it was still enjoyable when it wasn't killing me with needless dialogue and scenes. Had those been removed or shortened, I probably would rate it higher. These issues may be more for my taste, whereas others may think it's perfect. I would possibly end up reading it again for the unique plot and devices it used, but it may be a while before I ever do.
ARC provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
cozylittlebrownhouse's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ten writers can hardly believe their luck when they are invited to a six-week retreat at the home of legendary reclusive author Roderick Wells. What initially appears to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience to improve their craft and secure publishing deals slowly reveals itself to be a battle for survival as they are pitted against one another and dark forces.
Liked: THIS PREMISE HOOKED ME. (I love any story where a group of individuals are put into a situation that they must fight for their lives and escape.) Each character had a very interesting backstory. The setting was great, although it was not developed enough.
Disliked: The premise hooked me but ultimately disappointed me - I thought the whole story just could have been BETTER. I had a difficult time keeping the characters straight until closer to the end of the story. The horror elements weren't as prominent as I would have liked, and I think there wasn't much suspense built throughout the pages of the story. This should have been a total page-turner, and it wasn't.
This book could have easily been a solid five stars for me had it embraced the horror themes further and built more suspense into the narrative. I was satisfied with the ending, so overall, I liked it.
Ten writers can hardly believe their luck when they are invited to a six-week retreat at the home of legendary reclusive author Roderick Wells. What initially appears to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience to improve their craft and secure publishing deals slowly reveals itself to be a battle for survival as they are pitted against one another and dark forces.
Liked: THIS PREMISE HOOKED ME. (I love any story where a group of individuals are put into a situation that they must fight for their lives and escape.) Each character had a very interesting backstory. The setting was great, although it was not developed enough.
Disliked: The premise hooked me but ultimately disappointed me - I thought the whole story just could have been BETTER. I had a difficult time keeping the characters straight until closer to the end of the story. The horror elements weren't as prominent as I would have liked, and I think there wasn't much suspense built throughout the pages of the story. This should have been a total page-turner, and it wasn't.
This book could have easily been a solid five stars for me had it embraced the horror themes further and built more suspense into the narrative. I was satisfied with the ending, so overall, I liked it.
mims_is_reading's review against another edition
5.0
This was just SO good! I love Janz's stories in general. House of Skin was my favorite for years, but this one knocked it off its pedestal.
andreacaro's review against another edition
1.0
Gratuitously oversexualized in a way that makes me want to take a shower. Rape/sexual assault of someone with an intellectual disability. Domestic abuse, too. Slut-shaming. Fuck loads of misogyny and toxic masculinity. Then I DNFed. 1-starring this because honestly, it makes me never want to read anything written by a man ever again. I love horror, but rape as a horror plot device is lazy, bad writing.
nzlisam's review against another edition
4.0
Where vivid imagination breathes life into manuscripts, unleashing the stuff of nightmares!
Fans of Stephen King, Scott Thomas' Kill Creek, and Stephen Laws, Daemonic, will devour The Dark Game.
Ten authors are invited to the isolated home of best-selling, reclusive writer, Roderick Wells for a six week writing retreat. Absolute discretion is required, with those who choose to attend, contractually obligated not to mention the retreat to a soul. The prize: two million dollars and a publishing deal for one winner.
But from the moment they arrive the contestants are plagued by terrifying visions of past wrongdoings and supernatural beings who taunt them with their most private of sins. Moreover, their penned stories appear to be taking on a life of their own. Then one-by-one they are killed, murdered in terrifying and macabre ways.
Gothic horror meets black comedy – gory rather than scary, but a whole lot of fun nonetheless. Not for the faint-hearted though as there are a lot of grisly deaths, as well as sex scenes. But for regular readers of horror I highly recommend. I'm a big fan of a horror where a group of strangers are trapped together, forced to fight for their lives with seemingly no escape, and that the threat not only comes from whatever they are facing but also from those who turn on each other. Who's behind everything will come as no surprise, but the reason the writer's were selected, and the final showdown threw me for a loop. Loved the ending as well – talk about poetic justice!
None of the characters were particularly likeable, but all the same it's hard not to empathize over the way they were being violated, and hunted, in such perverse ways. There were characters I was rooting for more than others, but I didn't really warm to any of them. The benefits of a larger cast of characters, or in this case writers, is that some are merely there just to be killed off, so the action, and body count starts from the get go, and either this way, or a slow-build, work just as well for me in a horror plot.
This is my first horror novel by Jonathan Janz, but I do own The Siren and the Specter and with several references to it within this story, and having enjoyed this one, I'll definitely be reading it sooner rather than later.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Flame Tree Press, and Jonathan Janz for the e-ARC.
Available Now!
Fans of Stephen King, Scott Thomas' Kill Creek, and Stephen Laws, Daemonic, will devour The Dark Game.
Ten authors are invited to the isolated home of best-selling, reclusive writer, Roderick Wells for a six week writing retreat. Absolute discretion is required, with those who choose to attend, contractually obligated not to mention the retreat to a soul. The prize: two million dollars and a publishing deal for one winner.
But from the moment they arrive the contestants are plagued by terrifying visions of past wrongdoings and supernatural beings who taunt them with their most private of sins. Moreover, their penned stories appear to be taking on a life of their own. Then one-by-one they are killed, murdered in terrifying and macabre ways.
Gothic horror meets black comedy – gory rather than scary, but a whole lot of fun nonetheless. Not for the faint-hearted though as there are a lot of grisly deaths, as well as sex scenes. But for regular readers of horror I highly recommend. I'm a big fan of a horror where a group of strangers are trapped together, forced to fight for their lives with seemingly no escape, and that the threat not only comes from whatever they are facing but also from those who turn on each other. Who's behind everything will come as no surprise, but the reason the writer's were selected, and the final showdown threw me for a loop. Loved the ending as well – talk about poetic justice!
None of the characters were particularly likeable, but all the same it's hard not to empathize over the way they were being violated, and hunted, in such perverse ways. There were characters I was rooting for more than others, but I didn't really warm to any of them. The benefits of a larger cast of characters, or in this case writers, is that some are merely there just to be killed off, so the action, and body count starts from the get go, and either this way, or a slow-build, work just as well for me in a horror plot.
This is my first horror novel by Jonathan Janz, but I do own The Siren and the Specter and with several references to it within this story, and having enjoyed this one, I'll definitely be reading it sooner rather than later.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Flame Tree Press, and Jonathan Janz for the e-ARC.
Available Now!
raforall's review against another edition
5.0
Review on blog and in the March 16, 2019 issue of Booklist Magazine
http://raforall.blogspot.com/2019/03/what-im-reading-dark-game.html
Three Words That Describe This Book: unsettling, book about reading, thought provoking
http://raforall.blogspot.com/2019/03/what-im-reading-dark-game.html
Three Words That Describe This Book: unsettling, book about reading, thought provoking
spooky_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
God I love a good “Honored Guests” trope in a foreboding mansion with gruesome murders, suspense, mystery and (naturally) horror. This was loads of fun and I’m so glad I made it my first read by Jonathan Janz!
pbanditp's review against another edition
Felt like an overdone trope. Group of writers get mysteriously invited to remote location for a writing contest just felt cliché.
Just not a fan of the writing style. So misogynistic, hated all the characters, made me think that all authors are snobbish pricks and I know that isn’t true.
Just not a fan of the writing style. So misogynistic, hated all the characters, made me think that all authors are snobbish pricks and I know that isn’t true.
johnlynchbooks's review against another edition
5.0
WOW. Thats the only word to start off this review. Jonathan Janz is very quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. This is my second Janz title. After reading the first I went and ordered everything he has written. I was provided a copy of this by Flame Tree Press for review. Upon receiving it I cleared my schedule of any other book and put this to the top of my TBR. I’d heard good things, and let me say this. Janz and The Dark Game deliver.
Janz’s latest novel is the tale of 10 writers with aspirations of hitting it big. Some have tasted success and other’s have yet to glimpse it. They’ve been selected by superstar Scribe Roderick Wells to partake in a competition in which the winner is guaranteed literary success and financial security. The only catch being that only one of them can survive this competition. Unbeknownst to the writers, this is quite literal. Janz delivers us a cast of well developed characters, aside of course, from the early novel cannon fodder. The cast of characters in this novel share one thing in common. They all have some serious skeletons in their closets. They don’t stay buried long. I had a blast reading this book. The chapters are short and move at a lightning fast clip which I found to be perfect for that just one more chapter feeling when you’re reading something you love.
At times the book is sexually explicit. Other times it’s violent and aggressive. One thing it always is, is entertaining. As I finished this book, I found myself wishing that the antagonists past and his abilities had been further explored, although I understand sometimes too much explanation in a horror just ruins a good thing. I’m fine with what we did have here as the mystery of Wells serves the story just fine. If anything it’s a credit to how interesting of a character Janz wrote that I’m dying to know more. The book wrapped up nicely. So many times horror botches the endings. Whether it’s in print, on film, or in video games, people seem to have trouble sticking the landing. I’m very happy to say that isn’t the case here. I found the conclusion of this book equal parts satisfying and intriguing.
The Dark Game, by Jonathan Janz is another awesome title for the author. This is my second book by Janz, the first title being Dust Devils. Although I did love that as well, there is no denying that the leap in the quality of Janz’s writing from then to now is remarkable. This would be a standout title in any Authors bibliography and I can’t recommend this one enough.
5/5
Janz’s latest novel is the tale of 10 writers with aspirations of hitting it big. Some have tasted success and other’s have yet to glimpse it. They’ve been selected by superstar Scribe Roderick Wells to partake in a competition in which the winner is guaranteed literary success and financial security. The only catch being that only one of them can survive this competition. Unbeknownst to the writers, this is quite literal. Janz delivers us a cast of well developed characters, aside of course, from the early novel cannon fodder. The cast of characters in this novel share one thing in common. They all have some serious skeletons in their closets. They don’t stay buried long. I had a blast reading this book. The chapters are short and move at a lightning fast clip which I found to be perfect for that just one more chapter feeling when you’re reading something you love.
At times the book is sexually explicit. Other times it’s violent and aggressive. One thing it always is, is entertaining. As I finished this book, I found myself wishing that the antagonists past and his abilities had been further explored, although I understand sometimes too much explanation in a horror just ruins a good thing. I’m fine with what we did have here as the mystery of Wells serves the story just fine. If anything it’s a credit to how interesting of a character Janz wrote that I’m dying to know more. The book wrapped up nicely. So many times horror botches the endings. Whether it’s in print, on film, or in video games, people seem to have trouble sticking the landing. I’m very happy to say that isn’t the case here. I found the conclusion of this book equal parts satisfying and intriguing.
The Dark Game, by Jonathan Janz is another awesome title for the author. This is my second book by Janz, the first title being Dust Devils. Although I did love that as well, there is no denying that the leap in the quality of Janz’s writing from then to now is remarkable. This would be a standout title in any Authors bibliography and I can’t recommend this one enough.
5/5