Very thin characters, uninteresting mystery, and why did the game continue after the first murder? Why didn’t it bother Lia? What was up with the parents? I skimmed the second half just to find out who else died and who the murder was.

The synopsis of this story is a full out spoiler. If you haven't read it yet, skip it.

I loved the idea of a assassin game. It reminded me of the zombie game people played at my college every year with dart guns. The murder aspect added into the mix definitely made it seem like it would be a fun mystery read. Unfortunately the plot felt weirdly paced and underdeveloped. The characters weren't that likable and the killer was predictable. This book was a quick read; however, I recommend you skip this one.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Game by Linsey Miller takes The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie and twists it into a modern murder mystery for young adults. Filled with misdirections and tense atmosphere,The Game is sure to intrigue many young adult readers, though avid murder mystery fans may find themselves unraveling the mystery before it begins.

Every year, the seniors of Lincoln High play the game of Assassins to blow off steam and solidify bonds before going off to college. Lia Prince, who has spent her adolescence in the shadow of her older brother, has been planning and strategising on how to win the game and become a high school legend that’ll make her parents proud for years. With her meticulous research, best friend Gem, and crush Devon Diaz on her side, everything seems on track for Lia to achieve her goals. But then players in the game turn up murdered, one by one. With the stakes suddenly very real, Lia must unravel the mystery around the murderer before those closest to her are killed.

Let’s start with what this book has, which is some hefty triggers. First and foremost, the high school students are engaging in a game where they “kill” their classmates. Going into this book, I had the mindset of my own high school days, where games like this were played on darkened school grounds and was basically an elaborate game of tag. But Assassins in The Game is a little more complex and involves the use of water guns as a way to “take out” a target. At the first mention of guns, I started getting really concerned with where this book was going to go. And while I think Miller was able to work around it to keep the plot going (water guns, school is a safe zone, etc), I think readers should get more specific warnings about the way the game and “violence” towards classmates is discussed.

While there are other triggers to be aware of (graphic depictions of deaths, funerals, and panic attacks), there was one that actually played into one of the things that felt most real about the story: parental neglect and pressure. Lia has been worn down by poor parenting and the pressure to be more than her less than A+ self. Readers of any age will relate to the feelings of inadequacy and how they play into how we shape ourselves in our high school years.

The neglect and pressure of high school and Lia’s desire to win Assassins also brings forth a wonderful atmosphere of tension. Though the story does have some slow parts, the tension never leaves the story. Miller weaves a taught web of mystery over the game and ensuing murders. The narrative absolutely crackles with the stresses and anxieties of high school and delivers a realistic depiction of the pressures of being a student.

While Lia gets the most development, being the main character, the one who really shines through the story is Gem. As Lia’s best friend, Gem doesn’t get a huge spotlight, but they stood out nevertheless. Gem is non-binary and queer and it’s just who they are. Seeing diversity in gender and sexual orientation in a high school story, especially when handled in such a casual way, is a heartening thing to experience.

Unfortunately, not many other characters get much development, which makes it difficult to ultimately care for the outcome. I think a lot of this boils down to the length of the story. Clocking in at 240 pages, The Game is too long for a novella and too short for a well fleshed out novel. While Miller was able to keep a tense atmosphere with the murder mystery, there wasn’t much room left for world or character building.

While not always perfect, because no book can ever be, The Game is a quick and intriguing read. If you are looking for a taut murder mystery that will throw you right into the high school atmosphere, then this is the book for you.

This book was a very light read. Sometimes it is hard to find lighter reads in the murder mystery section but this is definitely one to check out if that is your thing. I liked how it took place at a highschool with highschool students. I haven't read many like that so it was a bit refreshing. That being said I thought that the main character, Lia, was a little bit obsessive at some points in the story. Personally I thought the story would still work if her character wasn't quite as obsessive. I also thought the reveal would be more climatic. I was a little disappointed in it because I was able to figure out who the murderer was pretty quickly and usually I like reading murder mysteries for the plot twists at the end. That being said if you like lighter reads or books that aren't as hard to follow this would be a good one for you!

I really really really wanted to love this. The synopsis sounds like everything I love in a book. However, I felt like it just fell flat. I didn’t really like Lia as a character and I guessed pretty quickly who the killer was. I found myself skimming to get through the book more quickly. I wanted more mature characters for high school seniors and felt they were on the more immature side. The concept for the book is still great and something that will draw a lot of people in.

A short read, THE GAME felt, initially, like a more modern version of Lauren Oliver's PANIC (small town puts high school seniors through an annual challenge and things go awry) but lacked the grit and desperation that PANIC really excelled at. Lia is the invisible girl - which is a valid if not particularly compelling identity - overshadowed by her successful older brother. Her ticket to success? Winning the game Assassin's. She's armed with Intel that she gathered over the course of a year. But things go wrong when students around her start dying.

There were a couple of weird things. A bunch of characters had alliterative names. <spoiler>Like... Even before they became victims, </spoiler>I thought that was weird and it stuck in my brain. The way our crew catches the killer was... Weird. Really out there and kind of unbelievable. Also, the police investigation felt really distant and more like "I don't know how police investigations work" than "I want to draw your attention to something else instead"

One thing that Miller always does very well is casually include gender/sexual/racial diversity in her main cast. Gem was nonbinary/gender-nonconforming and both Gem and Devon were dark-skinned. I'm pretty sure Ben and May had two dads (though that may have been a typo because I read an arc and it was only mentioned once in passing).

I read the book pretty much in one sitting, though, so it's definitely great for that kind of experience!

This book was very predictable. I guessed the killer and their motives less than 50 pages in. There were practically no red herrings and only a few twists.

The characters felt very young. If there wasn't graphic death and violence, I would say they acted more like 8th or 9th graders. I would probably recommend this to younger YA readers (if they could handle the content warnings) and YA readers that don't usually read thrillers.

I was intrigued by the story at first. But once the first little clue came up, I just wanted the book to end. <spoiler> It seemed very obvious who the killer was because they were basically the only side character mentioned. </spoiler>

The writing style was fine. There were some weird sentences throughout the book. In one conversation, Lia basically said that at other schools, it wouldn't be as unusual if 3 students were dead. I'm sorry but at what school does that happen?

Overall, this is a pretty predictable YA thriller with ok writing.

The Game is an event that seniors in high school play as their last hoorah before adulthood. You get teamed with a couple other students and have to assassinate your classmates one by one with water guns. Lia, the main character, has been waiting for this game since ninth grade. She wants to prove to everyone that she is good at something. While this game is mischievous, no harm is to be done to any of the classmates, but one by one they are getting murdered.

I really wanted to love this, the synopsis sounded amazing and of course I wanted American Horror Story: 1982 vibes. It just felt quite childish to me, like the characters didn’t act like seniors. I was intrigued throughout the book to find out what was really going on, and Lia is not a reliable character which made it all the better. It just ended in a very bland kind of way, I figured out who the killer was pretty easily and the ending just happened and that was it.

I really think if this was a more drawn out book with fleshed out characters it could have been fantastic. The author has a solid storyline it just needed some work with the mystery aspect and thrill. Having an assassination game go wrong and a killer on the loose sounds so good and that’s what this book could have been. All in all, I was intrigued throughout the book, but ended up disappointed at the end.

First off, the full synopsis is such a spoiler, I didn't read it before the book began and neither should you. Just know that The Game is about a high school senior class playing Assassin that takes a dangerous and real turn when students begin dying. Growing up watching my friends play Assassin, but being too scared to play myself, reading The Game was nostalgic in the best way. Running through yards in the night, teams with rivalries that made it to the classroom the next day.

The Game is a thriller which introduces an unreliable narrator and even until the end you don't know quite what is going on. I felt like there was enough action, but the pacing was incredibly fast and I didn't feel like I had enough time to savor the tension, fear, and mystery. The plot had a few surprises, even if I figured it out (which I never do in stories!), but what I appreciated was the way Miller talks about the pressures of high schoolers with college.

It's a little tough to sort out how to review this book. First of all, the premise was brilliant! A game of Assassin that turns deadly & Agatha Christie mashup? YESSSSSSSSSS. !!!

The mystery aspect was fun. A bit campy? Sure. But fun nonetheless, for readers willing to suspend their disbelief. I loved that Lia, the main character, was really into board games, and how that translated to her own obsession with winning the game of Assassin.

Now, the writing style is where this book really gets me. It's... strangely distanced (even more than in Agatha Christie novels) and took a lot of getting used to. But I found that it kinda grew on me. It allowed for some wry humor and observations about the characters that made me laugh aloud quite a few times. So, even though it was jarring at first, by the end I found myself really drawn to the style.

The characters are a bit flat and the relationships never felt quite real. But I found myself never entirely minding about that either?

This review is shaping up to be pretty confusing, probably because my own reading experience feels muddled. I enjoyed this odd story overall, despite it having some elements that would usually bug me. I guess I liked how different it was from the usual YA thrillers out there, even while the story maintains a very high school feel.

Thank you to Get Underlined via Netgalley for an advanced e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I was really disappointed in several aspects of this book, namely the revelation of the killer, the depth of the characters, and the plot itself. I thought this book lacked a lot of suspense and twists, but Lia made a good unreliable narrator. I appreciated what the author was going for but it didn't quite work for me.

I received an advanced copy of The Game from Netgalley, so I could share my review with you! All opinions are my own!

Content Warning- The Game contains scenes of murder and graphic violence.

Every year, the students of Lincoln High play a game called, “Assassin,” but this year, the consequences have become far more dire. Lia Prince has spent every free moment of her senior year prepping for her chance to win Assassin. She has tracked schedules, made schemes, and is prepared to do whatever it takes to become a Lincoln High legend. Lia was not expecting the game to take a turn for the deadly, however. When her classmates start dying around her, Lia doesn’t know what to do or how to stop it. Nothing can come between Lia and Assassin, but where does the game stop and reality begin?

You can get your copy of The Game on August 4th from Underlined!

I have loved all of Linsey Miller’s books so far and I am pleased to say The Game was no exception! When I saw that Miller was stepping outside of her usual fantasy genre, I couldn’t wait to see what she would write! The plot was so full of twists making it completely thrilling to read! Lia was a dedicated and fierce protagonist and I absolutely adored her interactions with Gem and Devon. As someone who usually stays away from thrillers/murder mysteries, I am so glad I gave The Game a chance!

My Recommendation-
If you are a fan of twisty plots with many layers of excitement, you should definitely check out The Game! This book would be perfect for fans of Riverdale and classic Agatha Christie murder mysteries!

This book was a disappointment. I expected so much more because the premise of this novel had so much potential but everything was not done right in my opinion.

For starters, our main character Lia. She was so stubborn and I'm okay with stubborn characters only when they justify their reasons. Lia on the other hand, just wanted attention so badly that she would risk her life to win a game. Her friends were dying all around her but did that stop her. NO. She just went on defying everybody just for attention. She says she's grieving the loss of her friends, but she SAYS it, not SHOWS it. Actions speak louder than words.

The whole plot itself was a bit too smooth for me. There weren't as many twists as I would have liked and I literally predicted the killer halfway through the book. It was just way too direct and I don't like my mysteries to be like that.

I would say that I liked the romance even though the two characters had no chemistry in my opinion. Call it a guilty pleasure.

Anyways, to conclude, I would say you should give it a go if you're new to the genre because this is quite the novel to start when reading this genre but that's where my recommendations end. This was too simple and I was just expecting a more tasteful novel.

I kinda like the cover, even being kind of simple.
Which is a thing with the whole book. While being quite a nice read, it lacks of depth.
First of all the writing style is nice and easy to read. The characters were kinda likeable, but none of them really got me hooked. Devon and Gem were nice people who I could relate too. But Lia, the main protagonist, was pretty annoying. Way to much self pitying and »everybody is so mean«. She was complaining about her parents all the time, but didn’t really stand up against them or tried to speak to them.
Beside that, the friendship in this book was nice and diversity representation too.
My biggest problem though was the slow paste of the story. The blurb literally told you the first 80% of the book. It took nearly 200 pages to get the three people (mentioned in the blurb) killed. And just some pages were about Lia trying to safe Devon. That bothered me a bit. The story was well told anyways.
In my opinion the end was, what let me think hard if I wanna give three or four stars. Because the end fell flat. No twist and turns, just really plain. Which is a shame, because the book wasn’t bad.
So, if your okay with knowing most of the story after reading the blurb, it’s four stars - because it’s a nice story to read on the side.

I loved the concept of this book. A huge game of assassin but you can't play until you are a senior. It give the feel of coming of age.

There was something that was off of the story I feel like the description gives a little too much away.

Intriguing and fun read!

I enjoyed this story, I would love to play a huge assassin game and take out targets with water guns. I liked how seriously Lia took it, following people to get their schedules, writing down their fears, allergies, and other assorted information. Her friendship with Gem was cute too and I loved that Gem being non-binary just was, without any conversations or making it a big deal.

Then the game turns deadly and everything gets pretty crazy. The pacing was well done and I didn't feel like it dragged anywhere. I was proud of myself for guessing who the killer was, but it was still fun seeing everything unravel. The alphabet aspect didn't play as big of a role and I was expecting and I was a little disappointed, but overall I had a great time reading this!

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. I love this kind of premise -- where there's some kind of ritual or competition that students at the small town high school compete in. This one didn't stand out for me, and there are others I'd recommend before this title. However, I'd also choose this one over some others in this niche, which leaves The Game a solid 3 of 5 stars.

I really loved the concept of the Game and it kept me engrossed all night. I had a difficult time putting it down even though I didn't find the writing to be fantastic. The story really captivated me.

Lia has been preparing to play Assassins, the mock murder style game played by high school seniors, since she entered high school. Lia is determined to win the game at all costs, but what happens when someone else takes the game too seriously and starts murdering seniors?

There are some issues with character development--I wish they were all fleshed out more. Also, it was obvious to me early on who the killer was so I wasn't shocked by the reveal. Despite its flaws, the novel was a quick read and I can see many teens being intrigued by the premise.

I was really intrigued by this book based on the description, but it just didn’t work. I wasn’t connected to the characters and one of them was just super annoying, Thanks for the chance to read!