A Very Tantalizing Horror Novel.

The story evolves around ten authors who are invited to participate in a six week-long writing competition which is a very hush, hush program that they will have to sign a contract of complete secrecy (no cellphones, no computers or tablets, nor telling any family or friends what they are doing) or they will be eliminated immediately and sent back home.   The winner of this elite competition will be awarded a several year contract with the top publishers and guaranteed fame and fortune from the sales of a many book deal that all writer's would want to die for an opportunity like this to fall into their laps.   These authors have all different backgrounds and their writing tastes vary from adventure, romance, erotica, mystery etc.   Little do they know their mission will be to write a complete horror story well out of their comfort zone.

Let the best writer of a frightfest with chills and creepiness begin!I

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down.   Jonathan Janz is a terrific writer and I will continue to read his books.   The Dark Game is written with great imagery and some subtle dark humor as well!   This is a must read for any horror enthusiast!   

I want to thank the the publisher Flame Tree Press and Netgally for the opportunity to read this very creepy book!

I highly recommend to all horror lovers and have given a rating of 4 Dark and Creepy 🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars!!

Feedback
So this was my first Jonathan Janz book and it will definitely not be my last. I enjoyed this book so much. It was dark and creepy and so well written. From the very beginning Janz hooked me into this dark story of what is going to happen to these 10 writers selected for this retreat. As the story unfolds, so does my curiosity. I truly did not see the way the direction the book was taken and by the time I figured it out, I was in amazement. It was so perfect for this story and I loved it. Everything was so well paced and even though you knew some of the events before they happened, it never took away from the plot. I really enjoyed how fast everything moved. In some horror, the buildup takes so long before anything actually happens but that did not happen here. It started right away and continued to build. The ending was kind of what I was expecting to happen but it really worked with the story. The descriptions were everything in this story. It truly made the story realistic as I could imagine the detail of events the characters were going through.
The characters were a perfect fit for this novel. Most of the writers that were invited to the retreat I did not like - but you weren’t supposed to. It was interesting to see how they all developed as the incidents occurred. Lucy had the chapters which worked really well with me because she was my favorite character. Each writer had their own point of view, which could have been overwhelming. However, Janz wrote it in such a way where it worked and never felt like one character got too much or too little time. I loved how he made each chapter flow from character to character. It was really easy to connect to the ones you were supposed to and the ones you were not.

Final Thoughts
Overall, The Dark Game by Jonathan Janz was a fantastic read. While I am still looking for that horror novel to complete scare me - this one was so enjoyable. It had a great creepy feel to it and the events that unfolded were perfectly disturbing. I loved the description and pacing that Janz took with this novel, never creating a dull point. Each character truly fit the story as well, even with all of the multiple point of views. I can’t wait to dive into more of Jonathan Janz’s books. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a dark tale about a writer’s retreat where it is not guarantee that they will be coming out alive.

5 Stars

Wow is all I can say. This is my first book by Jonathan Janz and won't be the last. 

I was hooked from start to finish. Read this in one sitting. 
Fast-paced and intriguing and definitely had that horror and jaw-dropping effect I was hoping for. 

Ten writers are selected for a summer-long writing retreat with the most celebrated and reclusive author in the world. Their host is the legendary Roderick Wells. Handsome, enigmatic, and fiendishly talented, Wells promises to teach his pupils about writing, about magic, about the untapped potential that each of them possesses.
They all have one thing in common...dark secrets that no one knows about. As they're struggling to write the best story of their life to keep ahead in this Dark Game they slowly realize that everything is not as it seems. And somehow what they write...Read the book to find out more...you won't be disappointed!

BRILLIANT storyline, I really enjoyed getting to know the characters in this book.

Novel: The Dark Game
Author: Jonathan Janz
Genre: Paranormal Thriller/Horror
Review Rating: 5 Stars
Cover: 7/10
Characters, interaction, and plot layout: 5/5
Publication Date: 11 April 2019
Do I recommend this: Highly!
Would I buy this book for myself or a friend: Yes

Thank you Netgalley & Jonathan Janz for my advance reader copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A wonderfully descriptive and horrifying story! Lucy, a young literary star, hasn't written anything worthwhile in years. She is invited to a competition amongst fellow young writers at the estate of world renowned author Roderick Wells. The winner will receive a book deal, notoriety, as well as them all receiving critiques from Mr. Wells himself. Quickly, however, it becomes apparent that there is more to this competition. As contestants disappear, we learn that each one is harboring a secret. While the writers are pitted against each other, the fight for survival takes on a sinister turn. Memories take hold of the contestants, as Mr. Wells and his cohorts appear to be feeding off the young writers. The descriptiveness of the scenery, each character, and each scenario are so well done, I could easily place myself in every situation with the characters. I am a new fan of Jonathan Janz. I can't wait to read more.

Review copy

Possibly the most succinct opening-line ever.  It truly tells you all you need to know about The Dark Game...

"Lucy sat in the back of the limo, blindfolded, unaware she was entering the nightmarish plot of a madman instead of a writer's retreat."

The estate of world-renowned writer, Roderick Wells.  Ten aspiring writers in all, there to learn at the feet of a master, and to compete for a two million dollar prize and a chance at immortality.

Sounds good, right?  Wrong.  Oh, so very wrong.  Before long writers are leaving the competition.  But are they dropping out on their own, are they being forced to leave, or are they being eliminated permanently?

"Rick realized why no one could find a recent image of Roderick Wells, why he never showed up to accept awards.  Because if someone did gaze at the man too long (he’s not a man) it would drive you insane, you’d get lost forever in those murky black tarns, those wells—the aptness of the name slammed into him— and once you sank into those stygian waters, you’d be lost, irretrievable.  Jesus God, couldn’t the others see what was happening?"

There are some Easter eggs from Janz's prior works, most notably where the title and subject matter of one of the writers' works is the same as Jonathan's recent novel, The Siren and the Specter.  Also, the Jack Ketchum writing advice was spot on.

The line between reality and nightmares blurs more and more as the remaining contestants come to grips with what is really happening.  The Dark Game is so twisted, but in the end, it all comes together.  Bizarre as it may be.

I'm sure we've all heard authors explain how, often as they write a character will take over the story and will take it in directions the author never intended.  Well, The Dark Game is this idea on acid.

Recommended.

Published by Flame Tree Press, The Dark Game is available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book formats.

From the author's bio - Jonathan Janz is the author of more than a dozen novels and numerous short stories.  His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice Awards nominee for Best Horror.  Additionally, his novel Children of the Dark was chosen by Booklist as a Top Ten Horror Book of the Year.  Jonathan's main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children.

Amazing story! Detailed characters, haunting past stories and a slowly growing horror that turned out to have more layers than I expected. Great build up and not a single dull moment! Loved it!

Wow this book is just awesome. An excellent read and is definitely one of the best books I have read this year.

A group of ten authors re invited to a retreat where one of them will be given a guaranteed book deal and instant fame as an accomplished author. However each author brings secrets with them. Things they would rather forget, so when their host, acclaimed author Roderick Wells, appears to know their inner most secrets, they panic. Slowly one by one the authors start disappearing, taking their secrets with them.

Creepy, gory and a fantastic book, that really is hard to put down. Can’t wait to read other books he has written.

BOOK BLURB

Ten writers are selected for a writing retreat with the most celebrated author

in the world, the legendary Roderick Wells. They think they are signing up for

a chance at literary prestige, but they are really entering The Dark Game - a

lethal contest pitting them against one another in a struggle for their sanity

and their lives.

BOOK REVIEW

If you thought a writing retreat was all cosy and inviting DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. 

This is a horror story crafted by a writer who has created magic within its pages. Not the fairy and elves sort of magic though , something darker and totally terrifying. A chillingly good read that draws you in and captures your imagination from the get go.  As the author introduces the characters he gives  you some insight in to their current life which he builds on as the pages turn . It's their past that becomes a more focused area and that helps us understand how they became the person they are now. Pasts that haunt them and it's this that  the evil between the pages feeds off. The author perfectly crafts the group dynamics , spotlighting each individual then weaving them into this chilling tale. A horror story that plays and toys  with your  imagination. You might  think you know what's to come but the plot twists and turns like a wind chime on a blustery day. A take on the Grimm fairy tales only  much much  darker. A horror writer whose books  should be on any horror lovers shelf . If you love James Herbert you will love this author.

Thanks to Anne Cater , Flame Tree Press and Netgalley for the chance to read and review. As always these are my own opinons and views on this book.

I have to admit that I had a little struggle with this book because the font on my ARC was so teeny tiny I could only read the story in 20 minute increments before my eyes started to cry and reading became an impossibility. After trying to read it this way for over two weeks I finally gave up and requested an eArc via Netgalley. Thank you Netgalley and Flame Tree Press for the arc’s! The author has confirmed that final copies will have an easier to read font so your eyeballs need not worry. 

This is a story about a group of writers who are invited to join in on a game at a creepy old mansion hosted by a creepier old writer. A Dark Game, mwahaha. The winner will receive fame and fortune and all they desire and who doesn’t want that? Everything about this game and its mysterious host is weird and ultra-creepy but the prize is irresistible. The losers? Well, you do not want to lose this game and that’s all I’ll be saying about that . . . 

When the story begins it tells the tale of a full cast of characters in alternating chapters and, likely because I was reading it in such short bursts, I had a difficult time keeping track of who was who and whose back story went with who and I kept mixing them all up in my head. I kept hoping a few of them would get killed off fast in order to end some of my confusion. I know, how selfish of me, but it is the truth. I don’t like straining my brain that hard after a long day of life and some of these characters were no good trashy people anyway and no great loss to humanity, if you’re asking me.

I enjoyed this book once the cast was trimmed down a bit, as I knew I would. The whole atmosphere was very well done and I enjoyed learning about the darkness hiding inside most of these characters. Reading about terrible and sordid secrets is my one of my favorite past-times and this book delivered on those. There were lots of nasty surprises to be found and watching the characters get all vicious with each other was a bit of a blast!

This is a wild book that really ramps up in its last few acts. If your memory is better than mine and you can handle a large cast of characters, I bet you’re going to fall right into this deliciously evil story and not come up for breath until you finish.

The Dark Game was a title that pulled my attention due to a lot of people talking about it on Twitter. I follow a lot of people who read, write and love horror novels on my Twitter account. So when there is a book that has quite a buzz on this social media medium I HAVE to read it. 

AND I LOVED IT. Sometimes when a book has so much buzz I do proceed with some caution. Some books get a lot of attention because they are legitimately amazing and their popularity starts to grow as more people love and read the book. Some books get a lot of attention because they get a really good public relations campaign and get a positive endorsement by the right influencer. This is one of those books that sells itself on its entertaining and well written content.

Jonathan Janz exceeded my expectations. He has one of those writing styles where I felt the need to absorb the nuances of his words in a quiet setting. Also, as the plot is about writers who are on a writing retreat who are working with a well loved writer there is a lot of risk that dialogue could start to feel too didactic. However that never happens! As the participants are forced to explore the darker parts of their souls, this contributes to a lot of suspense with unexpected twists and turns in the novel.

This is the first book that I am reading by is by Jonathan Janz. One of the books that is being written in this retreat is called The Siren and the Specter…which is actually the title of one of Janz’s previous books. I found it comical that this was being written at a retreat knowing that this is a book that Janz had written. I felt like the placement of this title was handled in a way that did not require any background information. However, I did wonder if there was a layer of understanding that I may be missing as a newbie to Janz’s writing. This is the only reason why I am giving this 4/5 stars on Goodreads. However my intrigue for this previous book is now really high having really loved this story. I would definitely say that following the hype on this book was worth it for me. I am now eager to read more work by this author!

Thank you Netgalley and Flame Tree Press for this ARC!

This is the first book I've read by this author. I enjoyed it quite a lot, though I used the definition function on my Kindle several times. I liked the plot, the pace, most of the characters, and the way the story flowed. I would definitely read another book by Jonathan Janz. 

Much appreciation to Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I’ve never read a book by Jonathan Janz before, but I’m always ready to discover new authors. Although I really had no idea the ride that was in store for me. The author grabbed me from the very first page, I felt hypnotised by his writing, I didn’t want to put the book down, and as I went far deep into the story, the hard it was to get out.

The characters are the central point of the story, and getting to know them all was addictive. I loved to read about the skeletons each of them had in their closets, the dark past and secrets they all wanted to hide, and these 10 authors had the worst ones!

So what happens when 10 authors and Rodrick Wells all live together under the same roof deprived of contact with outsiders? Blood, blood, and more blood. Every twist kept surprising me. I never knew what was going to happen next, who was going to die, or which of them would win (if any would). The story kept me on the edge of my sit, for the most part, creeping me out, frightening me, and even making me laugh. Between all the darkness and gory moments, there was time to laugh and even to get some justice.

However, I didn’t enjoy the book as much when all the supernatural elements took over the story. That is not my cup of tea, and it made me detached from the story. I would rather a tale of a maniac, of pure human evil with no influence from the paranormal world. That being said, I can appreciate how well thought all the supernatural parts were. Everything had a reason, nothing happened by chance, even if at first sight it doesn’t seem like it.

Even though supernatural horror isn’t for my taste, Jonathan Janz created an amazing story, spilling out secrets as well as guts, with a creepy atmosphere, full of murder, and finishing all off in a fast-paced tale of writers facing their demons.

Jonathan Janz may be rising above the “rising star” of horror status with several highly regarded novels under his belt. The Dark Game is another great novel to add to his list.

The premise is ten authors are invited to a secret writers retreat to compete for a publishing contract and cash. Roderick Wells, one of the greatest writers of all time in this setting, is the host and referee for this “Dark Game”.

As one would expect from a work of fiction, it’s not simply a competition between writers. There are darker, more sinister factors at work.

Fan Service
This is definitely a “fan service” novel. There are many, many references to The Siren and the Specter, another of the author’s other books. There are also several references to other authors, many of which are prominent members of the horror writer’s community.

For me, the fan service was a plus because I’ve read most if his books and am very familiar with all of the authors referenced. It added to my enjoyment but I could see if the reader isn’t familiar with Janz or the other authors referenced, it may detract from the book or simply mean nothing.

Feel/Impression
Well, to be honest, the format of the book for a large portion of it is split into several independent stories about each of the authors. In the beginning, there didn’t seem to be much connection between these stories so it read like a short story collection, in my opinion. Nothing wrong with that, just small turnoff to me.

The premise of the book isn’t really a new one either, there have been many books about writers. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, there are few truly original stories out there but this one has it’s own voice. Even though it’s not the same premise, the feel and tone of the story reminds me of Brian Keene’s, “Castaways”. I would count that as a positive in my book!

With the possible downsides stated, let’s move on to what makes this a good book! First thing is that each character has darker secrets than the next. As you read and find out these secrets you keep turning the page to see what’s going to be revealed next. And by the way, if I’m to believe this book, horror writers are a bunch of sick fucks!

The pacing is very good which keeps you reading. It’s not an action book, but there are action scenes. There’s always something pushing the plot forward. Nothing shuts me down as a reader more than pages, upon pages of backstory meanwhile the plot dies of old age. Not a problem with this book!

Roderick Wells was the most interesting character in the book. I won’t say anything that will spoil the story but, you’ll find out early on there’s something different about him.

There’s a little bit of everything in this book. There’s some splatterpunk, action, frights, romance, and action. There should be something here for every horror fan. Oh….and that ending! I won’t spoil it, but I definitely knew something was coming the way the book was coming to an end but didn’t guess it! I loved it, I bet you will too.

Where vivid imagination breathes life into manuscripts, unleashing the stuff of nightmares!

Fans of Stephen King, Scott Thomas' Kill Creek, and Stephen Laws, Daemonic, will devour The Dark Game.

Ten authors are invited to the isolated home of best-selling, reclusive writer, Roderick Wells for a six week writing retreat. Absolute discretion is required, with those who choose to attend, contractually       obligated not to mention the retreat to a soul. The prize: two million dollars and a publishing deal for one winner. 

But from the moment they arrive the contestants are plagued by terrifying visions of past wrongdoings and supernatural beings who taunt them with their most private of sins. Moreover, their penned stories appear to be taking on a life of their own. Then one-by-one they are killed, murdered in terrifying and macabre ways.

Gothic horror meets black comedy – gory rather than scary, but a whole lot of fun nonetheless. Not for the faint-hearted though as there are a lot of grisly deaths, as well as sex scenes. But for regular readers of horror I highly recommend. I'm a big fan of a horror where a group of strangers are trapped together, forced to fight for their lives with seemingly no escape, and that the threat not only comes from whatever they are facing but also from those who turn on each other. Who's behind everything will come as no surprise, but the reason the writer's were selected, and the final showdown threw me for a loop. Loved the ending as well – talk about poetic justice!

None of the characters were particularly likeable, but all the same it's hard not to empathize over the way they were being violated, and hunted, in such perverse ways. There were characters I was rooting for more than others, but I didn't really warm to any of them. The benefits of a larger cast of characters, or in this case writers, is that some are merely there just to be killed off, so the action, and body count starts from the get go, and either this way, or a slow-build, work just as well for me in a horror plot. 

This is my first horror novel by Jonathan Janz, but I do own The Siren and the Specter and with several references to it within this story, and having enjoyed this one, I'll definitely be reading it sooner rather than later.

I'd like to thank Netgalley, Flame Tree Press, and Jonathan Janz for the e-ARC.

Available Now!

**** Huge thank you to Flame Tree Press for providing me with a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! ****

**** Trigger Warnings: Abuse (Including Domestic), Sexual Assault, Abortion (Mentioned), Suicide, Pedophilia (Mentioned), Death, Violence, & Gore ****

It’s no secret Janz is one of my new favorite authors, it seems everything he writes is amazing and very entertaining and he’s a guaranteed 4-5 star read. “The Dark Game” was no exception but I have to say “The Siren and The Specter” is still the reigning champ in my heart!


I thought the set up for this new novel was incredibly enticing: a writer’s retreat doubling as a competition and they’re pitted against one another in a deadly game. I love settings where the characters are spirited away out in the middle of nowhere and participate in a lethal game or competition of some kind, but I suppose I’m kind of morbid like that! I thought the creepy mansion and forest did a great job of adding atmosphere as well.

The story follows the ten different writers as they arrive and compete and we get POV chapters and moments with all of them. Normally I would say this would be very overwhelming, ten POVs is a lot to keep track of after all! However, Janz did it in such a way that each character had their page time but you never felt confused or lost which I definitely appreciated. I also thought this gave the book a very fast pacing since there was always backstory or things happening with each character.

I also really enjoyed how we got to read bits of the stories the writers were creating, it was just some extra fun but also a way to explore each character’s back story. And holy crap was there back story! So much detail but I’ll get more into that in the ‘character section’. However, Janz can expertly weave through back stories like nobody’s business. Everyone had their past demons and secrets, it made for some serious page-turning because I was dying to know more!

The supernatural bits of the story were very interesting as well but due to spoilers I won’t be discussing it because it’s best if you know nothing. However, there were some parts at the end of the story I wish were a little more fleshed out such as the true origins of the villain. That’s just me being a little picky though because I’m so curious!

“The Dark Game” is also a standalone and everything is wrapped up nicely. I think if you’re new to Janz’s work this is another excellent place to start! (Although I will always push everyone towards “The Siren and The Specter”)


There are a wide range of characters in this book, we’re talking the initial ten writers that are participants in the competition, as well as Roderick Wells, the host, and his slew of servants etc. So quite a few! As I mentioned a bit earlier we get page time and POV moments with each of the writer characters but it was never confusing. We actually got so much back story and depth that each character felt as important to the story as the next, even when they were being picked off one by one at a rapid rate! I actually really enjoyed how complex each character was, not like in your typical horror film where they’re only there to get murdered, but you actually got to know them and even sympathize with some. Not to mention the variety of personalities with each character. Some you loved and some you loved to hate!


What I Loved:

    Plenty of action and fast pacing
    Interesting set up and setting (definitely an eerie atmosphere)
    Unique supernatural elements
    Tons of character development! Tons!
    Multiple POVs never felt confusing or overwhelming
    Fantastic writing!

What I Didn’t Love:

    I would have liked a bit more world building as far as the villain and supernatural elements went


Overall this is another fantastic novel by Jonathan Janz and I really feel that if you are a fan of horror you should be reading his books. He knows how to develop a story and characters and manage to still scare the hell out of you! “The Dark Game” is a great place to jump on the bandwagon too!

I’d heard a lot of buzz about Janz—how he was this great new horror writer, the next Stephen King and all that. Stuff we who read a lot and follow this stuff hear all the time. Well, forget what you think you know and read this book. Funny, literate, scary, compelling and with real characters—I just zipped through it.  I got the same vibe from this book that I got when I first read King. Get on the band wagon early. Highly Recommended!

This was the first book by Jonathan Janz I've read and wasn't disappointed.  This is the story of ten aspiring authors chosen to be mentored by Roderick Wells, a famous author at an exclusive retreat and to compete with each other for a chance in winning $3 million . Although the pace was great, there were a lot of characters which  kept getting confusing. I felt that a bit of character building was needed. but the atmosphere was done great. Right from the beginning Jonathan Janz teases us with his descriptions on how we are getting something sinister. I enjoyed it and will be picking up more from this author. 
Thank you to the Author, Publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC.

Up until this point, I've only heard amazing things about Jonathan Janz but had never read anything by him. That changed though with The Dark Game. He's brilliant and I'd put him right up there with Stephen King. He layers horror in such a way that is attainable and supernatural. 

The concept of the novel is almost like Survivor and The Haunting with a bit of Battle Royale tied in for good measure. It's not hugely original but still an interesting concept. Each writer is put through their paces and competes for the grand prize.

 Things get intense pretty quickly and the horror unfolds. The writers themselves are disquieting and equally as frightening as some of the supernatural aspects. As characters,  we learn more about them as the drama increases. And while we might have benefited from a  bit more character development it definitely wasn't lacking. There's no letting up as the stakes get higher. 

Another interesting aspect of this novel is the introduction of the writer's works. It adds an aspect of meta-drama and while there is a risk of this dramatic device being messy, Janz works it brilliantly adding another layer to the story. After reading this, my main thought is a resounding "How am I only reading Jonathan Janz now??". 

This is a tense, fast-paced horror and I'll definitely be reading more!4.5 out of 5 stars from me. Thanks to Flame Tree Press, Jonathan Janz and NetGalley for the reading opportunity. As always it's very much appreciated.

An author killing his characters was known, but authors called to a retreat in the jungle and being killed one by one was a new theme for me, and I was so dang excited that my heart thumped.

Jonathan Janz started the story with a bang, the feeling of impeding doom swamped me almost at once. All the 10 authors were not the cute cuddly kinds. They were vicious; each one had a secret. Murder and death were their past. Their books weren't a success. Wells, the elderly author, promised them the literary world if the won the competition, survived would be more apt. The first few chapters saw the death of one. And then the gore and horror started... 

The book was divided into parts, and each brought nightmares and true nature of all these authors alive. In fact, their fictional characters came to life too. I loved the parts where horror was vibrant and scary. But they came in bits and pieces across the book, hence there was no gripping tension. This niggled me, I could get easily distracted. 

Overall, I liked what the book gave me, but I wanted more of pounding heart, hitched breath, heightened interest from my end. A fun read, nevertheless

I expected much more from Janz. I'm a big fan, but this just didn't work for me. It was tedious. This plot has been done to death, in my opinion. I just wanted it to be over.