The Game is a mystery thriller and I was so excited about it! I have loved reading Miller’s previous books like Mask of Shadows and Belle Revolte! The Game promises a nostalgic game of Assassin in high school meets real world murders and secret societies. Keep reading this book review to see if this book lived up to my expectations!
Summary
Every year the senior class at Lincoln High plays assassin. Lia Prince has been planning her strategy for years and she’s psyched that not only does she finally get to play, she’s on a team with Devon Diaz. But this year, the game isn’t any fun–it’s real.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
First off, the full synopsis is such a spoiler, I haven’t included it because 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.
But?
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.
All of the characters in The Game are struggling with college preparation. Whether it be the pressure from parents, the amount of extra-curriculars that need to spruce up a resume, or the expectations to be the top, and what happens when you can’t keep up. What if you don’t know if college is for you? What if, despite trying your best, you can’t make a mark? How does that effect your value and your identity in a highly competitive world that demands everyone to stand out?
Overall,
I appreciated seeing Lia struggle with this issue, but I also wish it was resolved in a little more depth towards the end. In general, The Game was an entertaining fast paced mystery, I just wished it had a bit more space to expand. It can be read as a standalone, but it definitely leaves the possibility open for more and I love that!
Find The Game on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.