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anaffpereira's review against another edition
2.0
I saw this book in a bookstore and I was immediately attracted by its cover and after I read the synopses it seemed a very interesting and promising book.
The story begins when HP finds a cellphone in a train, and basically, in the first chapter, we find an annoying smartphone asking HP if he wants to play The Game. It took me a while to finish this chapter because I knew HP would play The Game (obviously, that’s the tittle of this 300-and-something-pages-book) so all that narrative was a little boring. Nevertheless, chapter one finally ended and the following chapters were much more interesting, easy to read and action packed, with twists and turns that will leave us wondering what will happen next.
HP has the main POV of this book, and what can I say about him? He’s immature, irresponsible, egocentric, and with sociopath tendencies if you ask me (I mean, he gets off as he watches the videos of his criminals acts!). Lastly, for someone described as intelligent, he can be really dumb and naïve. His POV are easy to read but his monologues are so… ridiculous! It seems that the author is desperately trying to be funny, but all that he accomplish to create is an egomaniac silly character who acts like a prick towards the (very few) people in his pathetic life.
The other POV is Rebecca’s, which is far more boring. If HP was absurd, Rebecca is plain. She’s just another character trying to prove her value in a world of (somewhat myogenic) men, while dealing with her dark past. I, however, don’t dislike her because she’s very strong and caring and she seems a much more believable character than HP. Even though her storyline is quite common, I would like to know more about her and I wish her character had more development.
The narrative continues in a fast and interesting pace, building up the mystery around The Game. The only thing I found off putting were the constant cuts between HP and Rebecca’s POV, leaving me sometimes lost in the story and a bit confused. However, it was interesting to see how these two characters cross paths (in an almost unrealistic sets of coincidences) and how they interact with each other. With a stupid protagonist with no-redeeming characteristics as HP, and with a somewhat-boring and unoriginal female character such as Rebecca, I can truly say that The Game was the only reason I continued reading this book (although The Game seems unbelievable almighty, but I guess that’s what makes the storyline exciting).
I didn’t buy the book in the bookstore; a friend lend it to me and I am thankful for that. Now that I’ve finish reading it, and even though I really liked the ending, I realize this isn’t a book I would spend my money on. Overall, it was interesting and somewhat funny, but it’s a type of book I would only read in the train or when I’m bored.
The story begins when HP finds a cellphone in a train, and basically, in the first chapter, we find an annoying smartphone asking HP if he wants to play The Game. It took me a while to finish this chapter because I knew HP would play The Game (obviously, that’s the tittle of this 300-and-something-pages-book) so all that narrative was a little boring. Nevertheless, chapter one finally ended and the following chapters were much more interesting, easy to read and action packed, with twists and turns that will leave us wondering what will happen next.
HP has the main POV of this book, and what can I say about him? He’s immature, irresponsible, egocentric, and with sociopath tendencies if you ask me (I mean, he gets off as he watches the videos of his criminals acts!). Lastly, for someone described as intelligent, he can be really dumb and naïve. His POV are easy to read but his monologues are so… ridiculous! It seems that the author is desperately trying to be funny, but all that he accomplish to create is an egomaniac silly character who acts like a prick towards the (very few) people in his pathetic life.
The other POV is Rebecca’s, which is far more boring. If HP was absurd, Rebecca is plain. She’s just another character trying to prove her value in a world of (somewhat myogenic) men, while dealing with her dark past. I, however, don’t dislike her because she’s very strong and caring and she seems a much more believable character than HP. Even though her storyline is quite common, I would like to know more about her and I wish her character had more development.
The narrative continues in a fast and interesting pace, building up the mystery around The Game. The only thing I found off putting were the constant cuts between HP and Rebecca’s POV, leaving me sometimes lost in the story and a bit confused. However, it was interesting to see how these two characters cross paths (in an almost unrealistic sets of coincidences) and how they interact with each other. With a stupid protagonist with no-redeeming characteristics as HP, and with a somewhat-boring and unoriginal female character such as Rebecca, I can truly say that The Game was the only reason I continued reading this book (although The Game seems unbelievable almighty, but I guess that’s what makes the storyline exciting).
I didn’t buy the book in the bookstore; a friend lend it to me and I am thankful for that. Now that I’ve finish reading it, and even though I really liked the ending, I realize this isn’t a book I would spend my money on. Overall, it was interesting and somewhat funny, but it’s a type of book I would only read in the train or when I’m bored.
ajnel's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"Game", is the first book in a trilogy. The protagonist, Henrik "HP" Pettersson, an unemployed 31 year old, with a taste for excitement and gambling, finds himself drawn into a mysterious game. The game starts with seemingly simple tasks, but quickly escalates into risky missions that transform HP's ordinary life. As HP progresses, he must decide whether the thrill and rewards are worth the increasingly dangerous situations he finds himself in. A fast-paced mystery thriller exploring an underworld which ostensibly ties into all aspects of human endeavour. The novel overflows with unique and unpredictable twists and turns making it a true modern adventure.
katykelly's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Translated without issue, this is a fast-paced thriller, an intriguing concept, though the characters aren't always the most sympathetic.
Rebecca is a police officer, intent on her career, talented and with issues from her past she is trying to live with. HP (Hendrik) is ambition-less, an opportunist, egotistical. On a train one day, he spots an abandoned mobile phone and of course, takes it, but immediately finds his name appearing on the screen and himself pulled into a world of dares, assignments, and increasingly dangerous tasks.
This reminded me of the Michael Douglas film, also called 'The Game', which kept you guessing to the end. This reveals secrets through the running length, with a quite clever moment out of The Silence of the Lambs that fools you into misunderstanding Rebecca and HP's relationship, if only the book blurb hadn't already given this away!
Rebecca's story, I enjoyed more - she's a bit of a Clarice Starling herself, driven and intelligent. She plays second fiddle to HP though, as it's HIS 'game' and actions that drive the plot. And HP is pretty revolting as a human, a user of women, egotist, thoughtless. The plot drives you to read on, but I really didn't like HP.
Some good red herrings, some enjoyable minor characters (Manga, HP's friend).
I liked the main plot idea, the rollercoaster of it, however silly it ultimately is. It would make a good film, though I'm not sure I'm going to read the next two books in the trilogy.
Translated without issue, this is a fast-paced thriller, an intriguing concept, though the characters aren't always the most sympathetic.
Rebecca is a police officer, intent on her career, talented and with issues from her past she is trying to live with. HP (Hendrik) is ambition-less, an opportunist, egotistical. On a train one day, he spots an abandoned mobile phone and of course, takes it, but immediately finds his name appearing on the screen and himself pulled into a world of dares, assignments, and increasingly dangerous tasks.
This reminded me of the Michael Douglas film, also called 'The Game', which kept you guessing to the end. This reveals secrets through the running length, with a quite clever moment out of The Silence of the Lambs that fools you into misunderstanding Rebecca and HP's relationship, if only the book blurb hadn't already given this away!
Rebecca's story, I enjoyed more - she's a bit of a Clarice Starling herself, driven and intelligent. She plays second fiddle to HP though, as it's HIS 'game' and actions that drive the plot. And HP is pretty revolting as a human, a user of women, egotist, thoughtless. The plot drives you to read on, but I really didn't like HP.
Some good red herrings, some enjoyable minor characters (Manga, HP's friend).
I liked the main plot idea, the rollercoaster of it, however silly it ultimately is. It would make a good film, though I'm not sure I'm going to read the next two books in the trilogy.
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not quite sure what to think about this book. On the one hand, it was pretty interesting. There are lots of twists and turns, and the reader really doesn't know exactly what's going on, even to the very end. The main character was so unlikable that it made the book hard to read. It's no fun being inside the head of a jerk for a whole book. But somehow, when finishing the book, I kinda want to read the next one. So I guess you could say I liked the book well enough.
jomasini's review against another edition
3.0
A 2.5 really. The concept was intriguing, but the writing was irritating - still, I finished it and am considering reading the next one
nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
4.0
This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Game is a high-octane, gritty thriller that will keep you guessing! I have to confess that thrillers are not always my favorite type of book, but the premise of this one had me really intrigued so I had to try it out. I'm really glad I did because it ended up being really enjoyable!
The negatives:
HP.
Those of you who follow my reviews know that I have a hard time connecting to a book with an unlikable main character. The fact is that HP is a very unlikable main character. HP is perfect for The Game - a somewhat morally bankrupt loner who isn't opposed to breaking a few laws or hurting a few people to get what he wants. He's selfish, foul mouthed and an all-around not-so-good guy. And he really doesn't have any desire to change. As the book moves on, you do find out that HP has some redeeming qualities, but they're a long time coming and you're never quite sure what side HP will end up on when it's all said and done. Because of this, I had a harder time enjoying this book at first - it did improve as the action and the suspense took over, though.
What I LOVED:
The Game.
The premise of The Game is incredibly intriguing and you wonder just how far HP will go for his perceived fame and glory. The tasks that HP has to perform start out simple, but get more and more dangerous as he advances in The Game. And when things go very wrong, HP realizes that things may not be as they seem. This book is full of action from start to finish!
Rebecca.
The book is told from both HP's and Rebecca's perspectives. Rebecca is a police officer/bodyguard who ends up getting pulled into The Game (I won't spoil exactly how). She is a bit detached from the world because of something traumatic that happened in her past - a mystery that unfolds throughout the book. She struggles with guilt over this traumatic event, both because of what happened and because she let someone else pay the price for it - and to make matters worse, someone is leaving her threatening notes. I actually found Rebecca's story more compelling than the main plot of The Game.
The twists.
This book was full of twists, a couple of which I saw coming, but quite a few that I didn't see coming at all! The whole book was a guessing game - who really worked for The Game and what was its true purpose? Who was out to get Rebecca and exactly what happened in her past that was causing her so much guilt? Would HP choose to stay in The Game? Escape The Game? Destroy The Game? Or would he have no choice at all? You are definitely kept guessing and some of the answers will definitely surprise you!
Game was an exciting read and I'm now eager to read the next book in the series. For fans of thrillers, this book is a definite go! 4/5 stars.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by NetGalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
Game is a high-octane, gritty thriller that will keep you guessing! I have to confess that thrillers are not always my favorite type of book, but the premise of this one had me really intrigued so I had to try it out. I'm really glad I did because it ended up being really enjoyable!
The negatives:
HP.
Those of you who follow my reviews know that I have a hard time connecting to a book with an unlikable main character. The fact is that HP is a very unlikable main character. HP is perfect for The Game - a somewhat morally bankrupt loner who isn't opposed to breaking a few laws or hurting a few people to get what he wants. He's selfish, foul mouthed and an all-around not-so-good guy. And he really doesn't have any desire to change. As the book moves on, you do find out that HP has some redeeming qualities, but they're a long time coming and you're never quite sure what side HP will end up on when it's all said and done. Because of this, I had a harder time enjoying this book at first - it did improve as the action and the suspense took over, though.
What I LOVED:
The Game.
The premise of The Game is incredibly intriguing and you wonder just how far HP will go for his perceived fame and glory. The tasks that HP has to perform start out simple, but get more and more dangerous as he advances in The Game. And when things go very wrong, HP realizes that things may not be as they seem. This book is full of action from start to finish!
Rebecca.
The book is told from both HP's and Rebecca's perspectives. Rebecca is a police officer/bodyguard who ends up getting pulled into The Game (I won't spoil exactly how). She is a bit detached from the world because of something traumatic that happened in her past - a mystery that unfolds throughout the book. She struggles with guilt over this traumatic event, both because of what happened and because she let someone else pay the price for it - and to make matters worse, someone is leaving her threatening notes. I actually found Rebecca's story more compelling than the main plot of The Game.
The twists.
This book was full of twists, a couple of which I saw coming, but quite a few that I didn't see coming at all! The whole book was a guessing game - who really worked for The Game and what was its true purpose? Who was out to get Rebecca and exactly what happened in her past that was causing her so much guilt? Would HP choose to stay in The Game? Escape The Game? Destroy The Game? Or would he have no choice at all? You are definitely kept guessing and some of the answers will definitely surprise you!
Game was an exciting read and I'm now eager to read the next book in the series. For fans of thrillers, this book is a definite go! 4/5 stars.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by NetGalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
katekaire's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
The more "gamer" books that I read, the more that there needs to be of these books. I am going to search to see what other books are out there like this. This needs to be its own genre. These books are great. Well the ones I have read thus far. I have been lucky to read some good ones.
I had this book sitting on my shelf for quite a while. Recently, I have read or attempted to read and the last three to four books were not good. So, I was looking for something to pick me up again. I grabbed this book. This book starts out right away with Henrik receiving a message on a cell phone asking him if he wants to play a game. Of course, Henrik thinks it is a trick that a friend is playing on him and agrees. Before too long, Henrik is addicted to the game and becoming the best. No matter how big or dangerous the task is. The pacing is great and I actually felt sorry for Henrik finding himself in his situation, despite the fact that during the tasks he had no regard for others. The ending leaving you wanting to read the next book.
I had this book sitting on my shelf for quite a while. Recently, I have read or attempted to read and the last three to four books were not good. So, I was looking for something to pick me up again. I grabbed this book. This book starts out right away with Henrik receiving a message on a cell phone asking him if he wants to play a game. Of course, Henrik thinks it is a trick that a friend is playing on him and agrees. Before too long, Henrik is addicted to the game and becoming the best. No matter how big or dangerous the task is. The pacing is great and I actually felt sorry for Henrik finding himself in his situation, despite the fact that during the tasks he had no regard for others. The ending leaving you wanting to read the next book.