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helorenz's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
heyitslydia's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I absolutely loved reading the middle and ending of this book. However the only reason I wouldn’t give it 5 or even 4.5 stars is because of how slow the beginning is. It only really started to get good once it got closer to the end of the book. Okay before I continue warning spoilers ahead: It really only picked up after Ben died and Devon and Lia started getting more into their relationship. However, I would definitely recommend this book though to anyone who likes murder mystery novels.
kat_a_strophe's review
4.0
I was surprised by this one. I wasn't sure it was going to be any good, but I was wrong. IT wasn't an insane, deep, dark thriller. IT was fast-paced, involving, and fun. It also addressed a few important things that I was very impressed with. The pressures of high school and the stress and anxiety it can give kids when they're pressured so hard about their futures. More so, My heart grew with so much pride. This is the first time I've read any book with a non-binary character that used they/them pronouns and it was beautiful and inclusive. I loved it so much.
A fast and fun read. A one-sitter. Worth it though.
Full Review:
https://thescarletreaderreviews.wordpress.com/2021/09/26/11811/
A fast and fun read. A one-sitter. Worth it though.
Full Review:
https://thescarletreaderreviews.wordpress.com/2021/09/26/11811/
bahopkins's review against another edition
4.0
I'm glad I picked up a copy of THE GAME by Linsey Miller as I've been in the mood for mysteries, thrillers, and twisty stories. THE GAME definitely is a mystery/thriller but with minimal twists. This YA story centers around Lia and the game the seniors in her high school play called Assassins. It's a covert game where players work in teams to "assassinate" targets -- all done by water gun under specific rules that must be followed or you're out. It's all fun and games until Lia's team's first target actually dies.
There are multiple murders and Lia finds herself as a suspect, but the one thing she's good at, is solving puzzles and playing games. So Lia along with her teammates set out to unmask the killer and get justice for their fallen friends.
Overall, the mystery was good. There were a few well-placed clues so I had my suspicions on who the murderer was just after the midway point. I'm good with that, because it made me want to get to the end to see if I was right. ....I was right.
I thought the ending was fine, but had be hoping for maybe a twist -- something along the lines of the killer having an accomplice. I read a lot of mysteries across genres and I enjoyed this one. It did remind me of a couple of other books with similar themes, but it stood on its own and I'm really glad I picked up a copy.
There are multiple murders and Lia finds herself as a suspect, but the one thing she's good at, is solving puzzles and playing games. So Lia along with her teammates set out to unmask the killer and get justice for their fallen friends.
Overall, the mystery was good. There were a few well-placed clues so I had my suspicions on who the murderer was just after the midway point. I'm good with that, because it made me want to get to the end to see if I was right. ....I was right.
I thought the ending was fine, but had be hoping for maybe a twist -- something along the lines of the killer having an accomplice. I read a lot of mysteries across genres and I enjoyed this one. It did remind me of a couple of other books with similar themes, but it stood on its own and I'm really glad I picked up a copy.
jennapreble's review
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy. This was a fun, quick read! I was able to guess the killer pretty early on, so it didn’t feel like there was really a twist and that’s a bit of a bummer. But I also recognize that I’m a full-fledged adult and not a YA for whom this was intended so I can overlook that.
melissa125's review
2.0
The premise sounded great but the execution just wasn’t for me. The pacing felt off and the ending was so unsatisfying.
Lia as a main character was irritating and did some very odd things in pursuit of this game with the flimsiest of reasons why she felt it was so important. The relationship between Lia and Devon was so weird too.
Lia as a main character was irritating and did some very odd things in pursuit of this game with the flimsiest of reasons why she felt it was so important. The relationship between Lia and Devon was so weird too.
ihateprozac's review
1.0
A lame concept let down by clunky writing. This might've been passable if reframed as a middle grade novel, but as a YA thriller this was beyond weak.
The plot in and of itself is pretty lame. The senior class of this small Arkansas high school play the game Assassins each year, where you have to get your target alone and shoot them with a watergun. It's a very elementary school concept to start with, and then when people start dying nobody seems to take it seriously. There are no stakes or tension to the story because at no point do you, as a reader, take any of it seriously.
The weak plot is further let down by characterisation that is all over the shop, with the characters somehow managing to be one-dimensional and completely chaotic at the same time. The leads are little more than Assassins Obsessed Girl, Band Nerd Boy, Bland They/Them, and Angry Nerd Girl. No time is spent on world-building and characterisation; we're just immediately thrust into a half-arsed story with characters who regularly bring up random memories mid-conversation in a super clumsy attempt at exposition:
Lia: omg Devon has never noticed me before, also I have no personality and am bad at school
Devon: I have secretly been in love with you all along ha ha also do you remember one time you won the Science Fair
Lia: oh yeah remember when I won the Science Fair I am good at science!!!! lol and you bought me an ice cream
Lia: btw our classmates are dying playing this Assassins game lol and my mum is super mad and won't let me play. Do you remember that time you got me cinnamon rolls, enby friend?
Enby friend: Abby's dog is called Omelet how funny is that lol
Lia: ha ha ha ha
Devon: ha ha ha ha
Lia: omg did you know my parents hate me
Me: what???
The whole book is a bunch of gibberish like that. Honestly I lost count of the times I eye-rolled while reading this, and I could feel myself actively losing brain cells! The only redeeming quality was the author writing a normalised non-binary friend who uses they/them pronouns, but sadly they don't get much of an arc.
Don't waste your time on this one, folks.
The plot in and of itself is pretty lame. The senior class of this small Arkansas high school play the game Assassins each year, where you have to get your target alone and shoot them with a watergun. It's a very elementary school concept to start with, and then when people start dying nobody seems to take it seriously. There are no stakes or tension to the story because at no point do you, as a reader, take any of it seriously.
The weak plot is further let down by characterisation that is all over the shop, with the characters somehow managing to be one-dimensional and completely chaotic at the same time. The leads are little more than Assassins Obsessed Girl, Band Nerd Boy, Bland They/Them, and Angry Nerd Girl. No time is spent on world-building and characterisation; we're just immediately thrust into a half-arsed story with characters who regularly bring up random memories mid-conversation in a super clumsy attempt at exposition:
Lia: omg Devon has never noticed me before, also I have no personality and am bad at school
Devon: I have secretly been in love with you all along ha ha also do you remember one time you won the Science Fair
Lia: oh yeah remember when I won the Science Fair I am good at science!!!! lol and you bought me an ice cream
Lia: btw our classmates are dying playing this Assassins game lol and my mum is super mad and won't let me play. Do you remember that time you got me cinnamon rolls, enby friend?
Enby friend: Abby's dog is called Omelet how funny is that lol
Lia: ha ha ha ha
Devon: ha ha ha ha
Lia: omg did you know my parents hate me
Me: what???
The whole book is a bunch of gibberish like that. Honestly I lost count of the times I eye-rolled while reading this, and I could feel myself actively losing brain cells! The only redeeming quality was the author writing a normalised non-binary friend who uses they/them pronouns, but sadly they don't get much of an arc.
Don't waste your time on this one, folks.
adam_cherry's review
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5