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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Questions for the godbot:
1. why is this book not listed as YA?
2. why is this book 500 goddamn pages long?
1. why is this book not listed as YA?
2. why is this book 500 goddamn pages long?
“Win and all your dreams come true. Lose, you die.”
I’ll admit it. I was hooked from the blurb. Honestly, as a fan of science fiction with a twisted love for how terrifying technology can be, the premise of an AI created from the combined scripture of every religion in history punched me in all the right places. I mean, COME ON!!! Imagine the possibilities!!! Oh wait, Danny Tobey did, and O.H. M.Y. G.O.D. was this a wild ride!
Charlie and his friends all vote to play the game. It’s a game, right? So even though the tagline is a bit disconcerting, everyone technically dies when they lose a game. It’s easy to rationalize that it’s nothing but a dramatic marketing ploy to draw interest and curiosity.
And it works.
From the moment they log in, the tech is insane, overwriting a fantastical reality over their actual reality. It’s over the top and the quests seem harmless. But as the rewards get bigger, so do the demands of the game. Except this isn’t as straightforward as a quest in Zelda. You can say no, but you’ll pay the price.
“Anyone is a murderer under the right conditions.”
What I loved about this book is from the beginning, we see that all isn’t right within the group. Known amongst themselves as The Vindicators, this group of teens is going through some legit growing pains. Charlie recently lost his mom. Alex struggles with his abusive father. Vanhi is fraying over secrets. Kenny is exhausted from the weight of expectations. And Peter, well, Peter doesn’t really seem to have many problems.
Tobey opens this book up with delirious tension but breaks up our certainty with teenage antics. Charlie and Peter are the first of The Vindicators to experience the game by telling it to go fuck itself. They don’t take the warning of the game seriously, so why should we?
“It was systems and anarchy. You played the system to achieve what anarchy used to provide: the power to take what you want.”
As we are drawn into the story, we get a variety of POV’s sprinkled in throughout Charlie’s main narration. And as the characters begin to show their inner selves to us, a deep-rooted, uneasy feeling grows. There are too many secrets, too many things hanging unsaid, unseen, unacted upon. Too many ways for everything to go horribly wrong. It’s a richly complex recipe for disaster.
Although, disaster seems too mild a word for what actually unfolds.
Beyond science fiction or suspense, The God Game is a deeply philosophical novel exploring not just what can go wrong with tech, but how complex unraveling human nature truly is. This is a story about morality. Tobey doesn’t preach morality to us though. Instead, he takes us on a philosophic roller coaster ride reminiscent of a modern Socratic method. We are asked questions, leading not to answers, but more questions, and while the characters make their choices, propelling the plot forward, the reader is left with the uneasy examination of all the possibilities hanging in the ether.
The result? A mind-bending, soul-twisting, compulsively addictive read.
If you love all things sci-fi and tech, where the AI is less a personality and more an all-powerful, omnipresent being full of all that terrifying possibility, get your hands on The God Game immediately. Lucky for you, it releases January 7, so you don’t even have to wait long.
Huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press for sending me an early review copy.
I’ll admit it. I was hooked from the blurb. Honestly, as a fan of science fiction with a twisted love for how terrifying technology can be, the premise of an AI created from the combined scripture of every religion in history punched me in all the right places. I mean, COME ON!!! Imagine the possibilities!!! Oh wait, Danny Tobey did, and O.H. M.Y. G.O.D. was this a wild ride!
Charlie and his friends all vote to play the game. It’s a game, right? So even though the tagline is a bit disconcerting, everyone technically dies when they lose a game. It’s easy to rationalize that it’s nothing but a dramatic marketing ploy to draw interest and curiosity.
And it works.
From the moment they log in, the tech is insane, overwriting a fantastical reality over their actual reality. It’s over the top and the quests seem harmless. But as the rewards get bigger, so do the demands of the game. Except this isn’t as straightforward as a quest in Zelda. You can say no, but you’ll pay the price.
“Anyone is a murderer under the right conditions.”
What I loved about this book is from the beginning, we see that all isn’t right within the group. Known amongst themselves as The Vindicators, this group of teens is going through some legit growing pains. Charlie recently lost his mom. Alex struggles with his abusive father. Vanhi is fraying over secrets. Kenny is exhausted from the weight of expectations. And Peter, well, Peter doesn’t really seem to have many problems.
Tobey opens this book up with delirious tension but breaks up our certainty with teenage antics. Charlie and Peter are the first of The Vindicators to experience the game by telling it to go fuck itself. They don’t take the warning of the game seriously, so why should we?
“It was systems and anarchy. You played the system to achieve what anarchy used to provide: the power to take what you want.”
As we are drawn into the story, we get a variety of POV’s sprinkled in throughout Charlie’s main narration. And as the characters begin to show their inner selves to us, a deep-rooted, uneasy feeling grows. There are too many secrets, too many things hanging unsaid, unseen, unacted upon. Too many ways for everything to go horribly wrong. It’s a richly complex recipe for disaster.
Although, disaster seems too mild a word for what actually unfolds.
Beyond science fiction or suspense, The God Game is a deeply philosophical novel exploring not just what can go wrong with tech, but how complex unraveling human nature truly is. This is a story about morality. Tobey doesn’t preach morality to us though. Instead, he takes us on a philosophic roller coaster ride reminiscent of a modern Socratic method. We are asked questions, leading not to answers, but more questions, and while the characters make their choices, propelling the plot forward, the reader is left with the uneasy examination of all the possibilities hanging in the ether.
The result? A mind-bending, soul-twisting, compulsively addictive read.
If you love all things sci-fi and tech, where the AI is less a personality and more an all-powerful, omnipresent being full of all that terrifying possibility, get your hands on The God Game immediately. Lucky for you, it releases January 7, so you don’t even have to wait long.
Huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press for sending me an early review copy.
I love this book!
I got this as an ARC and was super excited to read it. I am finally getting a chance to write this review. (A longer one will be posted on my blog.) Tobey brings us a dangerous game, a handful of friends in their senior year of high school and the possibility to live the life of their dreams. Some might think that is a stereotypical backdrop but the author doesn't bring us a coming-of-age novel. Instead, we get a page-turning thriller that leaves you guessing up to the very last page.
When I first got the ARC in the mail, I read the first two hundred pages straight through, even though I had a ton of other things to do.
All of the characters are unique and Tobey gives each one enough time in their own narrative for us to wonder who truly we should root for. Add to that the fact they are all different, with their own motivations, it makes it cool to see how the Game pits them against each other. They're not sure if the texts they send ever reach one another or if the voice on the phone is actually who they want it to be. The Game forces them to do outlandish things and all too soon, they are pulled under and have no way of escape...unless they sacrifice someone.
This was one of the most interesting and exciting reads I have read in a while. If you're into thriller, into suspense, this is a novel you will want to pick up!
I got this as an ARC and was super excited to read it. I am finally getting a chance to write this review. (A longer one will be posted on my blog.) Tobey brings us a dangerous game, a handful of friends in their senior year of high school and the possibility to live the life of their dreams. Some might think that is a stereotypical backdrop but the author doesn't bring us a coming-of-age novel. Instead, we get a page-turning thriller that leaves you guessing up to the very last page.
When I first got the ARC in the mail, I read the first two hundred pages straight through, even though I had a ton of other things to do.
All of the characters are unique and Tobey gives each one enough time in their own narrative for us to wonder who truly we should root for. Add to that the fact they are all different, with their own motivations, it makes it cool to see how the Game pits them against each other. They're not sure if the texts they send ever reach one another or if the voice on the phone is actually who they want it to be. The Game forces them to do outlandish things and all too soon, they are pulled under and have no way of escape...unless they sacrifice someone.
This was one of the most interesting and exciting reads I have read in a while. If you're into thriller, into suspense, this is a novel you will want to pick up!
**I received a free ARC through a giveaway**
This was a wild ride. I haven’t read a lot of tech thrillers but this one has me interested in reading others. The interesting and well developed characters were the stars of this novel but the overall plot was excellent.
This was a wild ride. I haven’t read a lot of tech thrillers but this one has me interested in reading others. The interesting and well developed characters were the stars of this novel but the overall plot was excellent.
The GOD Game reads as a YA Fantasy book centered around a group of high school kids who call themselves the Vindicators, because they are known outcasts. The main character Charlie and his 4 friends (3 boys, 1 girl) are invited to play the G.O.D Game, which is an AI game that focuses on morality and making life choices. The game can grant all the things you want, but it all comes as a price. If you complete a challenge the game poses to you, you will get something you are wishing for. If you go against the game you will be punished, and punishment could be death for yourself or someone you love. The deeper you get into the game the higher the stakes are, and the kids quickly realize they may be in over their heads. Friendships are put to the test, and the kids realize some players may be more power hungry than they anticipated. The kids soon find out quitting the game may not be as easy as they thought.
This book is not a genre a usually read, especially because it focuses more on fantasy, AI, and gaming. So with that in mind I enjoyed the book as much as I could for being out of my norm. I think this book will resonate with YA who enjoy gaming, and fantasy books. I do have to mention though, that this book focuses on religion, physical abuse, suicide, and a school terrorism attempt. It may be triggering for some readers.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for this book in exchange for an honest review. #THEGODGAME #St.MartinsPress @stmartinspress @thegodgame @dannytobey
This book is not a genre a usually read, especially because it focuses more on fantasy, AI, and gaming. So with that in mind I enjoyed the book as much as I could for being out of my norm. I think this book will resonate with YA who enjoy gaming, and fantasy books. I do have to mention though, that this book focuses on religion, physical abuse, suicide, and a school terrorism attempt. It may be triggering for some readers.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for this book in exchange for an honest review. #THEGODGAME #St.MartinsPress @stmartinspress @thegodgame @dannytobey
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley for providing and eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have many conflicting emotions regarding this book. There were things that worked for me and I enjoyed, and things that made me cringe and shrug my shoulders.
Let's start with the premise. A group of tech savvy teens come across a game, The God Game, where the AI operating it pretends to be god, and it tells them it can make their dreams come true. But, cause there's always a but, if they do things wrong, they will be punished. And to die in the game means to die in real life. I was sold on that straight away. It sounded thrilling, if a bit crazy, and I wanted to know what happens.
I wasn't entirely satisfied with what followed that premise. Though the book was engaging and fast paced for the most of it, the plot itself felt disjointed, partially because of constant switches in perspective. The way the eARC was formatted didn't help with distinguishing where one POV ended and other started. Overall I found the story enjoyable, but somehow unbelievable (don't confuse it with me saying it's unrealistic - of course it's unrealistic, it's sci-fi after all).
The characters really didn't work for me. I couldn't sympathise with any of them, I had no feelings about any of them, if not a mild dislike for most. I think they're the weakest point of the book. I wanted them more fleshed out, I wanted more character development. All of them stay pretty much the same, throughout the whole book. Kenny and Vahni, the most diverse of the characters got very little "screen time" compared to the other 3 characters, especially coming towards the end of the book. I usually have no problems relating to at least one character, or rooting for them, but in this case, I had no one. They're a group of friends who essentially treat each other like family, yet shit on each other and try and ruin their future to save their own asses. I mean, if there was some commentary there about human selfishness, I missed it and I guess that's entirely on me.
There was a case of insta love in there, too which kinda brought the book down for me.
Lastly, the book could do with more editing. The dialogue was so clunky at times, and honestly that's an easy fix. Some sentences were atrocious, which again is just the case of editing, as the whole book was written quite well. There's one particular sentence I have in mind which is the length of a sizeable paragraph and I'm baffled how it ended up in the ARC.
People draw a lot of comparisons between this book and Ready Player One, and honestly this one is much better (RPO is garbage - nothing can change my mind about it), so I guess what I'm trying to say is... although I had issues with some things, I enjoyed others, and I would classify this book as a fun, thrilling and quite spooky read and I would recommend it to any VR, video game, sci-fi fans, especially fans of RPO.
I have many conflicting emotions regarding this book. There were things that worked for me and I enjoyed, and things that made me cringe and shrug my shoulders.
Let's start with the premise. A group of tech savvy teens come across a game, The God Game, where the AI operating it pretends to be god, and it tells them it can make their dreams come true. But, cause there's always a but, if they do things wrong, they will be punished. And to die in the game means to die in real life. I was sold on that straight away. It sounded thrilling, if a bit crazy, and I wanted to know what happens.
I wasn't entirely satisfied with what followed that premise. Though the book was engaging and fast paced for the most of it, the plot itself felt disjointed, partially because of constant switches in perspective. The way the eARC was formatted didn't help with distinguishing where one POV ended and other started. Overall I found the story enjoyable, but somehow unbelievable (don't confuse it with me saying it's unrealistic - of course it's unrealistic, it's sci-fi after all).
The characters really didn't work for me. I couldn't sympathise with any of them, I had no feelings about any of them, if not a mild dislike for most. I think they're the weakest point of the book. I wanted them more fleshed out, I wanted more character development. All of them stay pretty much the same, throughout the whole book. Kenny and Vahni, the most diverse of the characters got very little "screen time" compared to the other 3 characters, especially coming towards the end of the book. I usually have no problems relating to at least one character, or rooting for them, but in this case, I had no one. They're a group of friends who essentially treat each other like family, yet shit on each other and try and ruin their future to save their own asses. I mean, if there was some commentary there about human selfishness, I missed it and I guess that's entirely on me.
There was a case of insta love in there, too which kinda brought the book down for me.
Lastly, the book could do with more editing. The dialogue was so clunky at times, and honestly that's an easy fix. Some sentences were atrocious, which again is just the case of editing, as the whole book was written quite well. There's one particular sentence I have in mind which is the length of a sizeable paragraph and I'm baffled how it ended up in the ARC.
People draw a lot of comparisons between this book and Ready Player One, and honestly this one is much better (RPO is garbage - nothing can change my mind about it), so I guess what I'm trying to say is... although I had issues with some things, I enjoyed others, and I would classify this book as a fun, thrilling and quite spooky read and I would recommend it to any VR, video game, sci-fi fans, especially fans of RPO.
Wow!! What a techno-thrill ride of a book!! This is the right way to kick off a new year, with an action-packed dark thriller!!
Charlie and his friends are high school seniors and consider themselves to be "outcasts" because they are the computer nerds who are always coding.. They make up a group that call themselves the "Vindicators." Outside of school, they each have to deal with loneliness, bullying, parental pressures and abuse.
So when they receive a text to play a video game called The God Game, the group jumps at the chance. At first, they find it fun, earning Goldz for doing simple tasks.
But then the tasks become so intense they begin pitting against each other, and against themselves. They begin questioning their morals in their real-life world.
I liked this book because it kept me wanting to read more, even during my one-hour lunch breaks at work!!
A big thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for gifting me an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
#TheGodGame #SurviveTheGodGame
Charlie and his friends are high school seniors and consider themselves to be "outcasts" because they are the computer nerds who are always coding.. They make up a group that call themselves the "Vindicators." Outside of school, they each have to deal with loneliness, bullying, parental pressures and abuse.
So when they receive a text to play a video game called The God Game, the group jumps at the chance. At first, they find it fun, earning Goldz for doing simple tasks.
But then the tasks become so intense they begin pitting against each other, and against themselves. They begin questioning their morals in their real-life world.
I liked this book because it kept me wanting to read more, even during my one-hour lunch breaks at work!!
A big thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for gifting me an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
#TheGodGame #SurviveTheGodGame
I received a copy of The God Game in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The God Game is the latest novel to come from the mind of Danny Tobey, and it combines science fiction with a most unexpected subject; god. Tobey asks himself the question; what would happen if AI and God were to merge?
The G.O.D. Game is a video game run by a very clever bot – one who roped Charlie and his friends right in. Together they’re about to face quests and demands, all to gain points with their G.O.D. ruler (of the game).
Unfortunately, this is exactly the sort of beginning one would expect before it all goes south. It doesn’t take long for their new gamer G.O.D. to start demanding uncomfortable and dangerous tasks of these wayward youths. And there seems to be no way out of the game they’ve begun.
“So said God, or at least the first artificial intelligence bot claiming to inhabit the persona of God.”
Warnings: The God Game covers a lot of heavy subjects. Some of those are going to be obvious, thanks to the title and description of the book. But others are going to be more surprising. This novel shows examples of depression, bullying, and suicide (thoughts and attempts).
The God Game was an intense and thrilling read. This novel blends together many unexpected elements. Its one part science fiction, one part thriller, and so much more. Seeing the events unfold was simultaneously unsurprising and horrifying in the extremes forced upon these characters.
The concept of an all-powerful program is not a new one. Yet Tobey did manage to throw several unique spins and twists our direction over the course of The God Game. The AI may have been the primary focus of the plot. But it was the humans that made it the memorable read.
Charlie and his friends all had wants and needs, and they really struggled here. They fought to know and understand the difference between right and wrong. They were trying to understand the rules of the game alongside the truth of life, all while still learning about their own inner selves. It was a complex and fascinating read through and through.
There were some parts of this book that were jarring enough as to throw me out of my reading mode. But on the whole, I enjoyed the read. It bounced quickly from funny and entertaining to intense and dangerous. It was a vital balance, all things considered.
I imagine those that are more tech and coding oriented are going to enjoy The God Game more than their counterparts. The gaming and coding references are highly amusing, but I can also see them being very mild for somebody not immersed in that world.
I really enjoyed The God Game, and I am very much looking forward to seeing what Tobey comes up with next. I’ll also be curious to see what other readers thought of this novel.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
The God Game is the latest novel to come from the mind of Danny Tobey, and it combines science fiction with a most unexpected subject; god. Tobey asks himself the question; what would happen if AI and God were to merge?
The G.O.D. Game is a video game run by a very clever bot – one who roped Charlie and his friends right in. Together they’re about to face quests and demands, all to gain points with their G.O.D. ruler (of the game).
Unfortunately, this is exactly the sort of beginning one would expect before it all goes south. It doesn’t take long for their new gamer G.O.D. to start demanding uncomfortable and dangerous tasks of these wayward youths. And there seems to be no way out of the game they’ve begun.
“So said God, or at least the first artificial intelligence bot claiming to inhabit the persona of God.”
Warnings: The God Game covers a lot of heavy subjects. Some of those are going to be obvious, thanks to the title and description of the book. But others are going to be more surprising. This novel shows examples of depression, bullying, and suicide (thoughts and attempts).
The God Game was an intense and thrilling read. This novel blends together many unexpected elements. Its one part science fiction, one part thriller, and so much more. Seeing the events unfold was simultaneously unsurprising and horrifying in the extremes forced upon these characters.
The concept of an all-powerful program is not a new one. Yet Tobey did manage to throw several unique spins and twists our direction over the course of The God Game. The AI may have been the primary focus of the plot. But it was the humans that made it the memorable read.
Charlie and his friends all had wants and needs, and they really struggled here. They fought to know and understand the difference between right and wrong. They were trying to understand the rules of the game alongside the truth of life, all while still learning about their own inner selves. It was a complex and fascinating read through and through.
There were some parts of this book that were jarring enough as to throw me out of my reading mode. But on the whole, I enjoyed the read. It bounced quickly from funny and entertaining to intense and dangerous. It was a vital balance, all things considered.
I imagine those that are more tech and coding oriented are going to enjoy The God Game more than their counterparts. The gaming and coding references are highly amusing, but I can also see them being very mild for somebody not immersed in that world.
I really enjoyed The God Game, and I am very much looking forward to seeing what Tobey comes up with next. I’ll also be curious to see what other readers thought of this novel.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks