35 books
—
5 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “The Dark Game” as Want to Read:
The Dark Game
by
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. Most of all, he plans to teach them about the
...more
Get A Copy
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published
April 11th 2019
by Flame Tree Press
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of The Dark Game

**3.5-stars**
This is the story of ten writers picked to live in a mansion and compete for the ultimate prize.
Find out what happens when people stop being polite, and start getting KILLED .

Ten aspiring authors are selected to attend a summer-long writing retreat at a private estate property.
Their host, Roderick Wells, a renowned author himself, is eccentric and creepy AF. He also happens to be cruel and quite possibly insane.

We meet the competitors fairly rapidly and, truth be told, I had a h ...more
This is the story of ten writers picked to live in a mansion and compete for the ultimate prize.
Find out what happens when people stop being polite, and start getting KILLED .

Ten aspiring authors are selected to attend a summer-long writing retreat at a private estate property.
Their host, Roderick Wells, a renowned author himself, is eccentric and creepy AF. He also happens to be cruel and quite possibly insane.

We meet the competitors fairly rapidly and, truth be told, I had a h ...more

Mar 13, 2019
Chelsea Humphrey
rated it
really liked it
Recommended to Chelsea by:
Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows)
Shelves:
from-publisher,
netgalley
"#1 Internationally Bestselling Author
MR. RODERICK WELLS
Requests the honor of your presence at his estate on May 26th for a six-week writing retreat. You and nine others have been selected for the opportunity of a lifetime. One of you will become the next Legendary Author.
Please find enclosed:
One airline ticket
A contract* outlining Mr. Wells's expectations
*Contract must be returned by mail no later than May 1st. Any mention of the retreat will automatically void the contract. Absolute secrecy ...more
MR. RODERICK WELLS
Requests the honor of your presence at his estate on May 26th for a six-week writing retreat. You and nine others have been selected for the opportunity of a lifetime. One of you will become the next Legendary Author.
Please find enclosed:
One airline ticket
A contract* outlining Mr. Wells's expectations
*Contract must be returned by mail no later than May 1st. Any mention of the retreat will automatically void the contract. Absolute secrecy ...more

2.5 stars
Ten Writers are invited to a summer long retreat at the home of one of the most celebrated and reclusive writers, Roderick Wells. He promises to teach them any things while they are there about writing and reaching their full potential. One of them will even win three million dollars, a publishing contract and Well's patronage! Who wouldn't want that?
Soon it becomes clear that things are not quite right at the retreat. Soon each one is confronted with their past and their deeds, actions ...more
Ten Writers are invited to a summer long retreat at the home of one of the most celebrated and reclusive writers, Roderick Wells. He promises to teach them any things while they are there about writing and reaching their full potential. One of them will even win three million dollars, a publishing contract and Well's patronage! Who wouldn't want that?
Soon it becomes clear that things are not quite right at the retreat. Soon each one is confronted with their past and their deeds, actions ...more

With his new book “The Dark Game” Jonathan Janz its author, has created an interesting set-up. What the story presents is Roderick Wells, the most celebrated and reclusive author in the world. hosting a summer-long writing retreat where ten writers have been selected to attend, for the chance of winning three million dollars, and an assurance of a big-time publishing contract.
The contestants are:
Lucy Still
Tommy Marston
Marek Sokolow
Evan Landon
Anna Holloway
Elaine Kovalchyk
Sherilyn Jackson
Rick For ...more
The contestants are:
Lucy Still
Tommy Marston
Marek Sokolow
Evan Landon
Anna Holloway
Elaine Kovalchyk
Sherilyn Jackson
Rick For ...more

I'm thinking about a 4.5 Star review here - just can't push myself to give five.
Janz is a very talented horror writer - if you've read some reviews, you will know that he has impressed some serious horror fans. His writing is good and stable, and his stories flow rather well. If it wasn't for me seeing the ending a bit too soon - don't know how many people will feel this way - I might have given it a five.
So, this story is almost like FLATLINERS meeting IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS.
We all have skelet ...more
Janz is a very talented horror writer - if you've read some reviews, you will know that he has impressed some serious horror fans. His writing is good and stable, and his stories flow rather well. If it wasn't for me seeing the ending a bit too soon - don't know how many people will feel this way - I might have given it a five.
So, this story is almost like FLATLINERS meeting IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS.
We all have skelet ...more

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 guarant ...more
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 guarant ...more

Original review posted at Cemetery Dance April 15th, 2019
2019 is the year of Jonathan Janz. There. I said it. Flame Tree Press performed the remarkable act of acquiring his previously released titles and then doling them out to us on a pretty aggressive schedule, which is an impressive gesture all on its own…but wait! There’s more. Flame Tree is also releasing new titles from Janz.
Like I said, this is the year of Jonathan Janz and an incredibly exciting time to be a fan. If you haven’t had the p ...more
2019 is the year of Jonathan Janz. There. I said it. Flame Tree Press performed the remarkable act of acquiring his previously released titles and then doling them out to us on a pretty aggressive schedule, which is an impressive gesture all on its own…but wait! There’s more. Flame Tree is also releasing new titles from Janz.
Like I said, this is the year of Jonathan Janz and an incredibly exciting time to be a fan. If you haven’t had the p ...more

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 ...more

This ...more

4.5 Stars!
Thank you to Jonathan Janz, Flame Tree Press and NetGlley for the ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first Jonathan Janz read, I had heard lots of good things so was super excited to get started on this.
The premise of a group of authors unknowingly being entered into a twisted game against each other, while being confronted by demons from their pasts had me hooked and I wasn’t disappointed!
The story starts quite briskly, with the authors arriving at the retr ...more
Thank you to Jonathan Janz, Flame Tree Press and NetGlley for the ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first Jonathan Janz read, I had heard lots of good things so was super excited to get started on this.
The premise of a group of authors unknowingly being entered into a twisted game against each other, while being confronted by demons from their pasts had me hooked and I wasn’t disappointed!
The story starts quite briskly, with the authors arriving at the retr ...more

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to the Horror Aficionados group and guest author Jonathan Janz for doing the group read for The Dark Game! I really enjoyed being a part of this!
This is the first book that I’ve read by Janz and I really enjoyed it. His writing is very descriptive, grim and shocking at times. I love this type of writing in horror! He does not skip on the horror or details when gruesome deaths occur.
The Dark Game starts off with 10 writers getting an invitation to a writing retreat with ...more
Thank you to the Horror Aficionados group and guest author Jonathan Janz for doing the group read for The Dark Game! I really enjoyed being a part of this!
This is the first book that I’ve read by Janz and I really enjoyed it. His writing is very descriptive, grim and shocking at times. I love this type of writing in horror! He does not skip on the horror or details when gruesome deaths occur.
The Dark Game starts off with 10 writers getting an invitation to a writing retreat with ...more

Jonathan Janz knows how to tell a story. His strength is driving a plot forward and keeping me wondering what will happen next. Ultimately, it's what brings me back to his books. That is definitely the strength of this novel. The setting is very And Then There Were None like. There are guests on an island vying for a prize and since this book is in the horror genre, the reader has a fairly decent idea of what will happen to at least some of them. The only thing in question is the how and why, an
...more

4.5 stars.
THE DARK GAME, by Jonathan Janz, is a novel that takes ten struggling writers--each aspiring to be the next to land a bestseller--on what they think is their chance of a lifetime. Each of them will meet and stay for a time with the extraordinarily successful, yet eccentric, Roderic Wells. The last time Wells extended an invitation to a group of authors, one of them became successful beyond her wildest dreams!
The catch? Only one of them can win the prize money and contract.
"MR. RODER ...more
THE DARK GAME, by Jonathan Janz, is a novel that takes ten struggling writers--each aspiring to be the next to land a bestseller--on what they think is their chance of a lifetime. Each of them will meet and stay for a time with the extraordinarily successful, yet eccentric, Roderic Wells. The last time Wells extended an invitation to a group of authors, one of them became successful beyond her wildest dreams!
The catch? Only one of them can win the prize money and contract.
"MR. RODER ...more

A number of books have explored the use of writers and their fictional characters coming to life to wreak havoc on their creators, but none have been so diverse and plentiful in number as those which appear in The Dark Game.
The premise of this horror is a genre staple; a bunch of people of varying socio-economical standing are invited to a house off the grid to participate in a contest which will reward the victor handsomely. If they can survive the secluded retreat that is.
The contest revolves ...more
The premise of this horror is a genre staple; a bunch of people of varying socio-economical standing are invited to a house off the grid to participate in a contest which will reward the victor handsomely. If they can survive the secluded retreat that is.
The contest revolves ...more

Ok so this is pretty silly, but it’s the kind of inventively murderous fun that passes the time splendidly and has an ending which leaves you with a wide, gleeful smile.
But was it scary??
Well, It had enough of a spook factor to make me check the shadows when taking the bins out so... make of that what you will.
ARC via Netgalley
But was it scary??
Well, It had enough of a spook factor to make me check the shadows when taking the bins out so... make of that what you will.
ARC via Netgalley

#1 Internationally Bestselling Author
Mr. Rodrerick Wells
Requests the honor of your presence at his estate on
May 26th for a six-week writing course
From the multitude of applicants, you and nine others have
been selected for the opportunity of a lifetime.
One of you will become
the next Legendary Author
The premise of this novel had me immediately excited and eager to read it. Ten writers are selected by bestselling author Roderick Wells to spend the summer at a writing retreat in his isolated estate. ...more
Mr. Rodrerick Wells
Requests the honor of your presence at his estate on
May 26th for a six-week writing course
From the multitude of applicants, you and nine others have
been selected for the opportunity of a lifetime.
One of you will become
the next Legendary Author
The premise of this novel had me immediately excited and eager to read it. Ten writers are selected by bestselling author Roderick Wells to spend the summer at a writing retreat in his isolated estate. ...more

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 ...more
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 ...more

The Dark Game was a fun read! I really liked the setup of this book, and my attention will always be caught with a synopsis like this. I think that this book is perfect for fans of books like The Carrow Haunt, Kill Creek, Hell House, etc.
I felt like there were a few too many characters, and it was difficult to connect with anyone. It was impossible to keep anyone straight, and it took people much longer to die than I expected since there were so many characters. I think a character list at the ...more
I felt like there were a few too many characters, and it was difficult to connect with anyone. It was impossible to keep anyone straight, and it took people much longer to die than I expected since there were so many characters. I think a character list at the ...more

10 aspiring writers are invited to a writing retreat at the remote mansion of reclusive author and literary giant Roderick Wells, an invitation that will transform one of them into a bestselling author in their own right.
But this bargain turns out to be more Faustian than benevolent......and failing to impress the great Roderick Wells carries a price far darker than any of them can imagine.
Janz spins a nasty little tale of psychological and supernatural horror, with touches of BURNT OFFERINGS th ...more
But this bargain turns out to be more Faustian than benevolent......and failing to impress the great Roderick Wells carries a price far darker than any of them can imagine.
Janz spins a nasty little tale of psychological and supernatural horror, with touches of BURNT OFFERINGS th ...more

Read this review and others on my blog!
Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for sending me a free advanced reader copy of this book for an honest review. The Dark Game debuts April 11th.
This may have been a poor choice for a first book to read by Jonathan Janz. I didn’t know much about Janz, though the name vaguely rang a bell. (More on that later.) The premise is a bunch of writers competing for mentorship and future literary prestige at a spooky retreat. Normally I’m not huge on sto ...more
Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for sending me a free advanced reader copy of this book for an honest review. The Dark Game debuts April 11th.
This may have been a poor choice for a first book to read by Jonathan Janz. I didn’t know much about Janz, though the name vaguely rang a bell. (More on that later.) The premise is a bunch of writers competing for mentorship and future literary prestige at a spooky retreat. Normally I’m not huge on sto ...more

There is a wide and varied cast of characters, but I didn’t find myself losing track of who’s who or disliking the number of perspectives; if anything, it was intriguing to watch the story-telling style change as the players began to exit the game. And believe me...they do exit quickly. The story’s action picks up early and never lets up. A word of warning: If you get a letter in the mail that begins with, “Mr. Roderick Wells invites you...”, just throw it away. Don’t read the rest. Don’t consid
...more

My review of THE DARK GAME can be found at High Fever Books.
I have to admit up front that I have a certain fondness for horror books about authors whose literary creations come alive. One of my favorites, of course, is Stephen King’s The Dark Half, and I’m pretty sure Dean Koontz wrote something along these lines as well, but I’ll be damned if I can recall the title (or maybe I’m just getting hit with a serious case of Mandela Effect). The Dark Game, a brand-new release unleashed amidst Flame Tr ...more
I have to admit up front that I have a certain fondness for horror books about authors whose literary creations come alive. One of my favorites, of course, is Stephen King’s The Dark Half, and I’m pretty sure Dean Koontz wrote something along these lines as well, but I’ll be damned if I can recall the title (or maybe I’m just getting hit with a serious case of Mandela Effect). The Dark Game, a brand-new release unleashed amidst Flame Tr ...more

** Edited as Review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
You want to know a sad reality? Like, a reality we’re living in that will possibly make you cry once you read it? OK – maybe grab some tissues. Got ‘em? OK – here we go. (Don’t say I didn’t warn you!)
THE DARK GAME IS ONLY MY SECOND JANZ READ EVER!!!
I know right! This is the reality of 2019 and you know frankly I’ll just go sit quietly in the corner and wait for you all to settle down. (Wow eight DM’s already yelling at me about that. You guys ...more
You want to know a sad reality? Like, a reality we’re living in that will possibly make you cry once you read it? OK – maybe grab some tissues. Got ‘em? OK – here we go. (Don’t say I didn’t warn you!)
THE DARK GAME IS ONLY MY SECOND JANZ READ EVER!!!
I know right! This is the reality of 2019 and you know frankly I’ll just go sit quietly in the corner and wait for you all to settle down. (Wow eight DM’s already yelling at me about that. You guys ...more

Wells’ mansion looked like every ghost story he’d ever read. As they drew closer, Rick couldn’t shake the feeling he was about to become part of one.
I’ve read and reviewed many of Jonathan Janz’s releases and re-releases over the last several months, and have loved all of them, but none have won me over quite as much as my first read of his, The Siren and the Specter—that is, until finishing this newest novel of Jonathan’s, The Dark Game.
I know what haunts you, Wells gloated. I can summon...more

Having been a huge fan of his work since THE SORROWS from now defunct Samhain Publishing several years ago, Jonathan Janz has been steadily releasing his back list with Flame Tree Publishing over the past year. And if his new horror release THE SIREN AND THE SPECTER from last year wasn't a big enough hit, which it was, with his forthcoming April release, THE DARK GAME, is like Janz's telling us, "Hold my beer!"
The mysterious and enigmatic bestselling novelist Roderick Wells holds his notorious " ...more
The mysterious and enigmatic bestselling novelist Roderick Wells holds his notorious " ...more

You know you’re reading a great story when 50 pages in you know you will be reading this again. The premise of The Dark Game alone deserves a 3 star rating, ten writers competing for a publishing contract at a writers retreat run by international best selling writer. Yet, what elates this novel to 5 star is Jonathan Janz awe inspiring storytelling ability.
The first thing that struck me about The Dark Game is how much story exists in its 300 plus pages. Every character is well defined, compellin ...more
The first thing that struck me about The Dark Game is how much story exists in its 300 plus pages. Every character is well defined, compellin ...more

I still can’t quite get over how damn good Janz’s writing is. With every book I read by him I become a bigger and bigger fan of his work. I think this just might be my favourite that I’ve read by him so far, it is SO bloody brilliant. At first I thought it sounded similar to Kill Creek by Scott Thomas and was worried it would follow that story too closely. But clearly I’m an idiot because holy hell, this is definitely not an imitation of that story, it is VERY much it’s own story. And is it ever
...more

I have been a fan of Jonathan Janz for a long time. He’s is good and I really dig his work.
There is a lot going on with this one though and it was a bit difficult to keep it all straight. I think it could have used a wee bit of a trim here and there to keep it a little leaner and meaner. That being said, it definitely didn’t lack for crazy sh*t going on. That’s for sure.
$3,000,000 up for grabs.
Let the games begin.
*I received an advance review copy of this release from NetGalley in exchange f ...more
There is a lot going on with this one though and it was a bit difficult to keep it all straight. I think it could have used a wee bit of a trim here and there to keep it a little leaner and meaner. That being said, it definitely didn’t lack for crazy sh*t going on. That’s for sure.
$3,000,000 up for grabs.
Let the games begin.
*I received an advance review copy of this release from NetGalley in exchange f ...more

Gratuitously oversexualized in a way that makes me want to take a shower. Rape/sexual assault of someone with an intellectual disability. Domestic abuse, too. Slut-shaming. Fuck loads of misogyny and toxic masculinity. Then I DNFed. 1-starring this because honestly, it makes me never want to read anything written by a man ever again. I love horror, but rape as a horror plot device is lazy, bad writing.

Very interesting supernatural thriller that was just a bit reminiscent of Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, Matheson's Hell House and Scott Thomas' Kill Creek - but take my word for it; people thrown together in a haunted house is where the similarity ends. Jonathan Janz took that premise and jetted off in an entirely different direction that was very satisfying, if a bit confusing.
The sheer number of characters made it somewhat difficult to keep up with, but the masterful way he picked them ...more
The sheer number of characters made it somewhat difficult to keep up with, but the masterful way he picked them ...more

I really enjoyed this one. A group of writers gather in a secluded mansion for a writing retreat, unbeknownst to them that evil awaits, and in time all hell breaks loose. Once again, author Jonathan Janz delivers an effective horror story with an energetic narrative and a character development worthy of his name. He is one of the better 'new' writers out there. Pick this one up. You won't be sorry. This is an Advanced Reading Copy with a publication date of April 2019.
...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Horror Aficionados : June 2019 Group Read with Guest Author, Jonathan Janz | 132 | 190 | Jul 02, 2019 05:55AM | |
Play Book Tag: The Dark Game by Jonathan Janz / 5 stars | 1 | 12 | Feb 26, 2019 12:44PM |
158 users
20 users
11 users
9 users
7 users
7 users
5 users
4 users
3 users
3 users
Jonathan Janz is the author of more than a dozen novels. He is represented for Film & TV by Ryan Lewis (executive producer of Bird Box). His work has been championed by authors like Josh Malerman, Caroline Kepnes, Stephen Graham Jones, Joe R. Lansdale, and Brian Keene. His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novels Chi
...more
Related Articles
In the mood for brooding heroes, windswept moors, and creepy manors with creaky floors? Then there's nothing quite like picking up a Gothic...
112 likes · 12 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »