⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 out of 5 stars)

This one was weird—in a good way, but also in a "wait, what just happened?" kind of way. A Game in Yellow is a trippy, surreal dive into cosmic horror with themes of identity, desire, and control. If you’re into experimental horror that leans heavily on atmosphere and psychological unraveling, this will be right up your alley.

The premise is creative: Carmen, stuck in a spiral of lost desire and growing distance from her girlfriend Blanca, turns to a mysterious “game” that’s somehow tied to the cursed play The King in Yellow. Things start off feeling slightly off, and before you know it, reality gets tangled. You're not just reading the book—you feel like you’re part of its unraveling.

There were things I really liked: Piper creates this heavy, disorienting tension that never lets up. The shifting perspectives, eerie scenes, and strange theatrical excerpts all worked to keep me intrigued. But I also felt a bit lost at times—especially when it came to Carmen and Blanca’s relationship dynamic. Their BDSM-tinged “game” had a clear structure, but the emotional payoff was murky, and I kept asking myself if either of them was actually happy. Some of the surreal elements hit hard; others left me scratching my head.

Ultimately, it was an interesting and unsettling read. While I didn’t fully connect with the characters or find the plot especially cohesive, I appreciated the bold storytelling and the way it pushed genre boundaries. It’s one of those books I’m still thinking about, even if I didn’t totally love it.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press | S&S/Saga Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Something here just didn’t click for me.

At no point was I rooting for Carmen and Blanca, either individually or as a couple. When we’re introduced to them, they’re already in the thick of their issues, so we never get even a glimpse of how good they were supposed to have been together before. I didn’t feel that I was ever given a reason to care about them as a unit or to believe that they were actually in love and belonged together.

Because of this, I just couldn’t connect with them, even if some of their personal or relationship issues could be considered generally relatable.

A good amount of this was pretty repetitive, especially when it came to the insecurities Carmen was having about their relationship; for example, I don’t know how many times it was reiterated that Carmen felt she needed to do/be better because Blanca deserved so much more than her. The sex scenes even somehow felt like the same thing again and again.

I do think the plotting of this was great and that it flowed really well. I especially loved this idea that a piece of writing could make a person go completely mad just by reading it. Fun fact: I learned after reading this that this myth was started with a short story collection titled The King in Yellow, published in 1895, where some of the stories are connected by the fictional play of the same name (also featured in this book) that drives people mad, and it’s considered a key influence in the creation of cosmic horror.

So, I loved the idea of this, but I didn’t love the execution. I’d say my overarching issue was that this didn’t make me feel anything at all—I didn’t think the erotica was sexy, I couldn’t connect with the characters, I wasn’t desperate to unravel what was going on, nor was I the least bit unsettled or creeped out. There was just something missing.

I’m giving it a perfectly middle-of-the-road 3 stars because I didn’t hate it, but didn’t love it. I do want to try another of Piper’s books, so if you’ve read any, let me know which I should try next!

This is clearly the work of a skilled writer, and there’s no way this book doesn’t kill it for some, but it didn’t hit my spot.

The premise is great - a literary Pandora’s box - the more you read from a cursed play, the more you lose your mind. Stop reading before that happens, and you’ll experience ecstasy. But I really didn’t like the relationships between the FMCs. I know it was a sub/dom situation, but I never felt emotions between them. The best message I got from the book is: if you have to choose, choose yourself over your relationship before it’s too late.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Saga Press Books for the opportunity to read this eARC!

This one’s wild, seductive, and deeply unsettling. A couple’s search for thrill leads them into a surreal nightmare via a cursed play and once they start reading, reality begins to slip.

A play that, when read, can drive you into madness? In small doses though, maybe it can help Carmen and Blanca sex life. This book was trippy, and you become a part of the action by reading excerpts yourself. I am not sure that this helped them, but it was quite the interesting read. I have not read anything by Hailey piper before, so this was my first introduction into her world. I will say that I am definitely going to read more from her in the future!

This didn't quite hit as hard as I personally would have liked, but I'm also not sure I'm a huge fan of cosmic horror, so this could be a me thing. In either case, this is a solid horror if you like messed up relationships and unhinged female protagonists.

📚 A Game in Yellow by Hailey Piper
📖 Format: eARC via NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book feels like waking from a nightmare… only to realize you’re still dreaming. Somewhere between the pages, I got lost… and I’m still not sure I’ve made it back.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC — this is my honest review.

Hailey Piper delivers another unsettling, beautifully written dive into psychological horror. A Game in Yellow is disorienting in all the best ways — slipping between reality and something much darker, weaving a web of confusion and dread that tightens with every page.

One of my favorite elements was the queer representation. Piper approaches complex polyamorous and kink relationships with respect and nuance, exploring how they can be loving and affirming while still containing moments of toxicity. This never felt like a judgment on polyam or kink communities — rather, it showed that unhealthy dynamics can happen in any type of relationship, and that complexity made the characters feel real.

Some scenes here are truly horrific — so vividly written that they stick under your skin — and others feel like wandering through a dream you desperately want to wake up from. The imagery of the two black suns is going to haunt me for a long time; I’m sure they’ll show up in my nightmares. ⚫️⚫️

If you enjoy horror that plays with perception, forces you to question what’s real, and leaves you a little off-balance long after the last page, this one is worth picking up. Just… don’t read it right before bed.

—

⚫️ Psychological horror at its finest
⚫️ Respectful queer, polyam, and kink representation
⚫️ Explores relationship toxicity without stereotyping
⚫️ Horror imagery that sticks with you
⚫️ Perfect for fans of surreal, dreamlike terror

#AGameInYellow #HaileyPiper #NetGalleyReviewer #PsychologicalHorror #QueerHorror #PolyamoryRep #KinkRep #NightmareFuel #booktok #bookstagram #HorrorCommunity

3 Stars

A Game in Yellow is a dark, steamy, and unsettling read. Carmen and Blanca’s relationship struggles take a wild turn when they meet Smoke and are introduced to a mysterious play that blurs the line between euphoria and madness. I enjoyed Carmen’s reactions and the tension between the characters. The story is ambitious and unique, blending eroticism with creeping horror, though it didn’t completely land for me. Still, Hailey Piper has a bold, distinctive voice that makes this worth a read for fans of experimental, erotic horror.

Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the character of Carmen in A Game in Yellow by Hailey Piper. I understood the assignment that Blanca and Carmen’s relationship was not working so they were searching for ways to spice up their sex lives. Smoke incoming with A King in Yellow play that when read caused the reader euphoria initially and madness eventually. I enjoyed Carmen’s reactions to her boss and coworkers. I didn’t understand the play, the book within the book. I liked the ideas of the book but the execution of the play fell flat for me. 3.5 stars, rounded up. ARC was provided by Saga Press via NetGalley. I received an advance reading copy for free and I am leaving a review voluntarily.

Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for the EArc.

3.5 stars rounded up.

I loved how unhinged this book was and the war Carmen was facing internally. Smoke was the most intriguing character who seemed misunderstood most of the story. I wanted to know more about her and I found that I wanted the focus to stay on her during the scenes she was in. I LOATHED Blanca with such a passion. At first, Blanca seemed like the perfect girlfriend but the more the story developed, the more I felt so strongly in opposition to anything she did or said. I also found that as the story progressed, I liked Carmen less and less. Don't get me wrong, normally unlikable FMCs are my bread and butter but by the end they were so unlikable that I didn't really care about their outcomes.

Now, about the play. I still feel confused. I understand what it was supposed to do to the reader, but I wish that either the play was better or we were just given the gist of it. It wanted to be deeper than it was and it came across a bit cheesy imo.

Overall the concept was intriguing and but the play ruined the story for me.

3.5⭐️ A Game in Yellow by Hailey Piper is an intimate and unsettling blend of queer eroticism and creeping psychological horror. It follows a lesbian couple whose relationship is being tested by emotional distance, sexual frustration, and the arrival of a mysterious third person who offers an unusual way to rekindle their connection. From there, desire and reality begin to blur in ways that are as disorienting for the reader as they are for the characters.

One of the book’s standout qualities is its representation. The main cast is diverse in background, body type, and sexuality, and the intimacy is portrayed with openness and honesty. The writing is atmospheric and sometimes dreamlike, shifting between traditional prose and theatrical script in a way that gives the story a unique texture.

While I appreciated the bold premise and the mix of intimacy with creeping dread, the pacing occasionally dragged for me. Certain beats felt repetitive, and I sometimes wished the plot would move forward instead of circling the same emotional territory. That said, the story’s structure and the way it blurs boundaries between fiction and reality kept me engaged through to the end.

I liked this book and admired its ambition, even if I did not fall completely in love with it. Readers who enjoy surreal, slow-burn horror with erotic undertones and experimental storytelling will likely find it both intriguing and memorable.

This was a slow burn erotic horror story that built the tension in a well paced fashion. Hailey Piper is such a unique and interesting voice in horror fiction and this one will probably stick with me for a bit, as wow, what an ending and what a lead up. It's a spiral of tension and dread and while I'm unfamiliar with The King in Yellow and the lore surrounding it, I never felt confused or like I was missing something as I read. Strange and unnerving to be sure.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eArc for review.

A Game in Yellow was beautifully written, but not quite for me. I was expecting it to be a bit more of a horror, a bit more of a thriller and it didn't quite hit those marks for me.
That being said, I found the A King in Yellow play sections a bit dense (or I'm a bit dense?) but I did enjoy the fervor and frantic energy.

While I did enjoy this, I wanted to like it much more than I did. The premise of The King in Yellow being used as an erotic drug was promising, but it became fairly repetitive. I'm also not sure that the source material was explored and incorporated adequately -- the snippets of the play could have been substituted with any other "cursed" literature and nothing really would have changed except for the prevalence of the color yellow throughout. The characters were hard to like while still being very enjoyable to read about, which is a hard balance to strike, and I was very invested in their toxic relationships.

I have been duped by an eye-catching cover, once again...

Not just that, having the tagline "Euphoria meets Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke", is just SOOO wrong that I feel like I need to contact the proper authorities...if you catch my drift. 👀

The book started off intriguing enough, but it got to a point where I honestly just wanted to finish it to be able to give it a final rating (I do not rate DNFs). The writing style and the formatting of ~the play~ was so clunky and hard to follow. I feel like the whole time the author was talking in circles but not really getting anywhere. Also, the dynamic between Carmen and Blanca was just odd from the get-go. They felt more like psuedo-roommates than an "in love" couple exploring kink together. All of it felt forced. None of it made any sense. I'm mad.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Objectively i think this is a 4 for the right audience, unfortunately that was not me. however, i am not going to rate the book poorly because of my miscalculation in requesting this.

This is a fever dream story, which is why i requested it, and missed the part where it is heavily focused on a couples sexual kinks, which is usually not something i gravitate towards.

The story is very well written, i think the language really adds to the dream like quality and its definitely a story that will have you questioning the reality of our characters. I found the switch between prose and play to be a fun way to distinguish things.
Overall I think this is a fantastic story for its intended audience, i only wish that had been me

I think my brain melted reading this book. I’m not sure if I’ve been outsmarted and missed the whole purpose, but this book was not for me.

This book is a fever dream.

From the streets of New York to the inner worlds of the psyche via far distant spaces, Hailey Piper writes a gorgeous blend of beauty, sex and horror that would make Clive Barker proud (and HP Lovecraft faint).

What would you do if you were offered the ultimate in sensual experience? Carmen and Blanca enjoy exploring their physical relationship through healthy kink, but now find themselves seeking some more intense. In doing so, they find far more than they anticipated, potentially fracturing their sanity and grip on this world in the process.

This is a quest for personal truth, be it through sensation, dreams or even madness, as the women wake up to something beyond reality as we know it.

The author is a masterful puppeteer, carefully letting events unfold without ever quite telling us enough. I’m sure she knows what each character is doing and why, but we have to trust her as we’re drawn in, guessing at motivations while knowing that they may never be truly revealed.

Kink is the gateway drug here, with the mysterious ‘Game in Yellow’ play the next phase in this weird journey as it compels those who read it into other realms of imagination. Even if unusual erotica is not your thing, every moment is described so delicately and artfully that the reader can always appreciate what might be going on beneath the skin.

I knew that I was hooked when I suddenly felt an intense physical and mental jolt at a particular scene, like an effective jump-scare - the book had held me so deeply that I couldn't help but react. Words are the stimulant here, indeed.

I don’t want to say any more, but if you’re brave enough to dive into ‘The Game in Yellow’, as with any Hailey Piper title, know that you’ll be well rewarded.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this novel!

[3.5 stars]

Brief synopsis: In an effort to rekindle their sex life, Carmen and Blanca become embroiled with Smoke, a charismatic, mysterious figure who introduces them to a strange play: The King in Yellow. While the play initially appears to work for the couple, Carmen finds herself drawn deeper and deeper into the world of the play.

There's a lot I liked here, and most of it revolves around the play itself. I love how Piper used Carcosa, here, and how the play functions within the story is so well done. I do think it helps to know a bit about Carcosa, though I don't think you need to have read the short story to grasp what's happening.

Where Piper shines, here, is in the writing and the unease she's able to craft as Carmen finds herself becoming more intertwined with the play. It was so unsettling and feels claustrophobic.

There are also interesting conversations on BDSM and kink, particularly in queer relationships, though I do think they could have been explored a bit more clearly. While we know that Carmen and Blanca have a "game," knowing more about the history of their relationship and how it all started would have been helpful in terms of character development. I never really felt connected to either character, and their motivations were a bit confusing to me, at times.

I would love to know more about Smoke -- she was such an interesting character.

Overall, a bit of a mixed bag for me, but I would definitely recommend, especially for folks that love cosmic horror and Piper's storytelling.

Carmen and Blanca’s relationship had hit a rut but when they meet a women named Smoke, they are introduced to a strange play that causes euphoria to the point of madness.

It may be hard to write a review for this one, as I’ve never read anything quite like it. It was dark, steamy, and very sexy. It spirals into wildness fairly quickly. I didn’t quite get the chapters within the story they are reading, but I was there for the effect and the wildness that went down.

“You’ve never wondered about sex at the edge of life and death?”

A Game in Yellow comes out 8/12.