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sam_hartwig's review against another edition
DNF
I got to 200 pages and found myself not caring, I didn't have the want or need to pick up the book.
By reading other people's reviews, it sounds like it starts getting good. But I've already given the book a good go, and decided I'm giving up.
It could be my mood at the moment, because I remember really liking the first one. Oh well.
I got to 200 pages and found myself not caring, I didn't have the want or need to pick up the book.
By reading other people's reviews, it sounds like it starts getting good. But I've already given the book a good go, and decided I'm giving up.
It could be my mood at the moment, because I remember really liking the first one. Oh well.
cutenanya's review against another edition
5.0
Game is the sequel to I hunt killers, a story about the son of the most infamous serial killer. I really loved I hunt killers because Jasper is such a refreshing character. Usually, in murder mysteries, you get the good guys vs. bad guys, but Jasper is like a lotus, with roots in the muddy water, but still emerges beautifully from it. Of course, with a major cliffhanger like this, it is really hard to judge the plot until reading the conclusion (which hopefully will be great) in the next book.
Although I gave it a 5 star (because I really love the premise and characters in this book), there are still some problems with the plot, in particular, the pacing. The beginning was too slow and dragged on a bit. The characters, Connie in particular, is too "dumb", not in terms of intelligence (actually, she probably is even smarter than Jasper in that area), it's more about her being reckless and not "think" before acting.
I am so glad I did not read this book when it first came out and waited so that I would not have to sustain the torture of not having the next book right away.
Although I gave it a 5 star (because I really love the premise and characters in this book), there are still some problems with the plot, in particular, the pacing. The beginning was too slow and dragged on a bit. The characters, Connie in particular, is too "dumb", not in terms of intelligence (actually, she probably is even smarter than Jasper in that area), it's more about her being reckless and not "think" before acting.
I am so glad I did not read this book when it first came out and waited so that I would not have to sustain the torture of not having the next book right away.
applegnreads's review against another edition
2.0
to my mind authors that end books at the apex of the plot with a cliffhanger so that you will be forced to read the next one are... well, nothing i want to write here. anyway, a good editor can help trim that book so that it can be combined with the next one into one book. really. of course, there were many other things about this book that a good editor can not fix.
colby_law's review against another edition
I honestly thought it was a little bit predictable with the whole "game" but I did not see that last piece of information coming.
marieintheraw's review against another edition
4.0
the ending didn't feel like an ending, but not in a typical cliffhanger fashion. it felt like pages were missing. I feel for how many pages there were the ending shouldn't have felt the way it did.
elnaann1313's review against another edition
3.0
I was frustrated with the characters multiple bad decisions which landed them in predictable, dangerous situations. The ending, however, was anything but predictable. Cliffhangers like this are cruel to the reader. When is the sequel due to be published?
katie1031's review against another edition
4.0
3.75
I liked this book more than the last one. The game aspect was really interesting and the ending had me excited to read the next. However, I don't love how the author had the main character speak about fat people.
I liked this book more than the last one. The game aspect was really interesting and the ending had me excited to read the next. However, I don't love how the author had the main character speak about fat people.
mollywetta's review against another edition
4.0
I’m morbid and a fan of the macabre, and I totally dug I Hunt Killers. Game was one of my most anticipated sequels of this year, and I was very excited to read the sequel.
Game picks up soon after I Hunt Killers. Billy, Jasper’s dad, is on the loose. Jazz is dealing with his crazy grandma, his complicated feelings for his girlfriend, Connie, and his dreams, which are becoming even more disturbing. Life’s not easy for him. Still, when a NYPD detective comes knocking on his door looking for help tracking a serial killer, he can’t say no.
Game requires a suspension of belief, but on a much larger scale than I Hunt Killers. Instead of just helping with a local investigation, Jazz is recruited by the FBI and NYPD. Despite Jazz’s unconventional upbringing and uncanny insight into the mind of a serial killer, I can’t fathom that these authorities, would, let alone could, bring in a minor to assist with their investigation. Despite the believability issues I had with the plot, Game is an engrossing, thrilling read.
CHARACTERS
Jazz continues to be a fascinating character study. Balancing the seductive pull of his dark urges with his commitment to his mantra “people are real, people matter” creates constant tension, which makes for good fiction.
However, what I enjoyed most about Game was getting to know Connie better. She’s got a good head on her shoulders, even though the plot of this novel requires her to make some not-so-great decisions. She’s tough, and firm, and goes after what she wants. She loves Jazz, and not because of his darkness, but in spite of it. There was one moment when I went “is she really thinking that?” and it’s nice when a character surprises you or is shown to have another side.
Billy is a world class creep, mostly because he’s so damn charming. His dialogue is excellent, and really gives readers a glimpse into his twisted mind.
All of the secondary characters introduced here fell flat for me, especially the law enforcement officers. They had no depth, and certainly weren’t given the treatment Sheriff G. William was given in terms of development in I Hunt Killers. I’m not sure what to think of Jazz’s aunt, Billy’s sister, and I wonder if she’ll factor into the next book.
I think the chapters from the POV of the killer could work for some readers, but they felt extraneous to me. I find Jazz’s story and the way his mind works much more compelling than a garden variety killer’s.
PLOT
This sequel is a page-turner just like I Hunt Killers, and Lyga crafted a mystery that was intriguing from the beginning and kept me guessing. There are many layers to this game, and Lyga reveals them slowly. Without giving away the mystery, I’ll say that it’s got plenty of twists, heaps of gore, and one hell of a cliffhanger. This novel focuses more on the plot turns and less on Jazz’s internal struggle and character development.
Which leads us to my biggest disappointment with this novel: the ending. Where I Hunt Killers was a fantastic story that wrapped up all the loose ends, it left room for a sequel while working as a standalone novel. Game, in contrast, was a novel split in two, with no clear climax, no resolution. The last half of the book is all rising action. At over 500 pages, it’s not short, and I expected some kind of ending.
I enjoyed Game, but not as much as I Hunt Killers. I’ll look forward to the final installment, but I almost wish I would have waited to read them back to back. If you’re put off by a lack of resolution, I’d suggest you wait for the release of the next one, too.
Game picks up soon after I Hunt Killers. Billy, Jasper’s dad, is on the loose. Jazz is dealing with his crazy grandma, his complicated feelings for his girlfriend, Connie, and his dreams, which are becoming even more disturbing. Life’s not easy for him. Still, when a NYPD detective comes knocking on his door looking for help tracking a serial killer, he can’t say no.
Game requires a suspension of belief, but on a much larger scale than I Hunt Killers. Instead of just helping with a local investigation, Jazz is recruited by the FBI and NYPD. Despite Jazz’s unconventional upbringing and uncanny insight into the mind of a serial killer, I can’t fathom that these authorities, would, let alone could, bring in a minor to assist with their investigation. Despite the believability issues I had with the plot, Game is an engrossing, thrilling read.
CHARACTERS
Jazz continues to be a fascinating character study. Balancing the seductive pull of his dark urges with his commitment to his mantra “people are real, people matter” creates constant tension, which makes for good fiction.
However, what I enjoyed most about Game was getting to know Connie better. She’s got a good head on her shoulders, even though the plot of this novel requires her to make some not-so-great decisions. She’s tough, and firm, and goes after what she wants. She loves Jazz, and not because of his darkness, but in spite of it. There was one moment when I went “is she really thinking that?” and it’s nice when a character surprises you or is shown to have another side.
Billy is a world class creep, mostly because he’s so damn charming. His dialogue is excellent, and really gives readers a glimpse into his twisted mind.
All of the secondary characters introduced here fell flat for me, especially the law enforcement officers. They had no depth, and certainly weren’t given the treatment Sheriff G. William was given in terms of development in I Hunt Killers. I’m not sure what to think of Jazz’s aunt, Billy’s sister, and I wonder if she’ll factor into the next book.
I think the chapters from the POV of the killer could work for some readers, but they felt extraneous to me. I find Jazz’s story and the way his mind works much more compelling than a garden variety killer’s.
PLOT
This sequel is a page-turner just like I Hunt Killers, and Lyga crafted a mystery that was intriguing from the beginning and kept me guessing. There are many layers to this game, and Lyga reveals them slowly. Without giving away the mystery, I’ll say that it’s got plenty of twists, heaps of gore, and one hell of a cliffhanger. This novel focuses more on the plot turns and less on Jazz’s internal struggle and character development.
Which leads us to my biggest disappointment with this novel: the ending. Where I Hunt Killers was a fantastic story that wrapped up all the loose ends, it left room for a sequel while working as a standalone novel. Game, in contrast, was a novel split in two, with no clear climax, no resolution. The last half of the book is all rising action. At over 500 pages, it’s not short, and I expected some kind of ending.
I enjoyed Game, but not as much as I Hunt Killers. I’ll look forward to the final installment, but I almost wish I would have waited to read them back to back. If you’re put off by a lack of resolution, I’d suggest you wait for the release of the next one, too.
aepstone's review against another edition
I need to stop reading these -- Barry Lyga's well-written suspense keeps me up late reading, and up even later afraid of my nightmares!