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A Game Of Red
Earth. The future. Cities have become severely bent. A company has risen to power and employed brutal tactics on selected groups of society. A small band of people are relocated underground, thinking they escaped the scorched earth, but soon discover that things are not what they seem. Terror comes out of the shadows and the group realizes their situation isn't any better underground. Striving for answers, it's a race for survival.
Don’t miss the exciting conclusion to this new sci-fi suspense series, “Blood games.”
Don’t miss the exciting conclusion to this new sci-fi suspense series, “Blood games.”
347 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2020
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
James M. Thomas
5 books3 followersJames Thomas lives in Surprise AZ with his lovely wife of 20+ years and two great kids. He holds a Masters degree in science education and is an avid adventurer. He endeavors in many areas of art, seeking fulfillment in these areas of creativeness.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 13, 2020
ARC provided by NetGalley : Thoughts & Opinions are my Own!
Unfortunately I really did not like this book and thought it was a challenge to get through. It should also come with a trigger warning for some because there’s not one but three brutal rape scenes. Because it’s an ARC I held out hope until the bitter end that it would get better but for me it never did. The entire concept was lacking originality and has become increasingly popular particularly in movies. The writing was choppy and confusing going from one character to the next in a matter of paragraphs. It certainly didn’t help that there are quite a few characters introduced and many have very similar names like John and Jones. Throw in two killers who are not named off the bat and it was a recipe for disaster. I guess I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, I thought at the very least the apocalyptic aspect would be real but instead that’s a manipulated memory given to these unknowing participants. To sum up the story in a nutshell a bunch of people wake up in what they believe is some type of underground haven p. None have memories of more than a few weeks back and the 30 or so of them have to keep things running to stay alive as the topside has been ruined and is now toxic. Of course everything they think they know is a lie and instead they are just unwilling contestants thrown into a televised PPV type event where they are to be hunted one by one by a sadistic killer for sport. Another government/corporate run experience where people’s lives matter none and it’s all a game. A very lucrative game. Of course the company has massive control over this new world and while they used to procure only convicts and actual human garbage, they’ve now started with grabbing random innocent strangers and bystanders (especially protestors) and throwing them into the mix. This is why the end is is supposedly ruined for me. Sure maybe they found there way out but there’s no chance in hell this company won’t hunt them down and either a.) kill them or b.) throw them back in to the game. There’s no HEA here and really throughout the whole book there was a complete lack of any type of hope. Time after time the killer has the upper hand, he’s a sick fu*k who even rapes one of the girls in front of her boyfriend. It was just hard to read and even though the killer gets killed in the end, the power of the company and their reach took away any sort of belief that things would be ok. Between the character confusion, choppy writing and too descriptive (multiple) rape scenes, this was just a no for me.
Unfortunately I really did not like this book and thought it was a challenge to get through. It should also come with a trigger warning for some because there’s not one but three brutal rape scenes. Because it’s an ARC I held out hope until the bitter end that it would get better but for me it never did. The entire concept was lacking originality and has become increasingly popular particularly in movies. The writing was choppy and confusing going from one character to the next in a matter of paragraphs. It certainly didn’t help that there are quite a few characters introduced and many have very similar names like John and Jones. Throw in two killers who are not named off the bat and it was a recipe for disaster. I guess I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, I thought at the very least the apocalyptic aspect would be real but instead that’s a manipulated memory given to these unknowing participants. To sum up the story in a nutshell a bunch of people wake up in what they believe is some type of underground haven p. None have memories of more than a few weeks back and the 30 or so of them have to keep things running to stay alive as the topside has been ruined and is now toxic. Of course everything they think they know is a lie and instead they are just unwilling contestants thrown into a televised PPV type event where they are to be hunted one by one by a sadistic killer for sport. Another government/corporate run experience where people’s lives matter none and it’s all a game. A very lucrative game. Of course the company has massive control over this new world and while they used to procure only convicts and actual human garbage, they’ve now started with grabbing random innocent strangers and bystanders (especially protestors) and throwing them into the mix. This is why the end is is supposedly ruined for me. Sure maybe they found there way out but there’s no chance in hell this company won’t hunt them down and either a.) kill them or b.) throw them back in to the game. There’s no HEA here and really throughout the whole book there was a complete lack of any type of hope. Time after time the killer has the upper hand, he’s a sick fu*k who even rapes one of the girls in front of her boyfriend. It was just hard to read and even though the killer gets killed in the end, the power of the company and their reach took away any sort of belief that things would be ok. Between the character confusion, choppy writing and too descriptive (multiple) rape scenes, this was just a no for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2020
James Thomas masterfully blends the genres of serial killer horror and dystopian fiction in A Game of Red! As a portion of Earth’s population is forced to live underground, Tommy discovers that not all of them are good-natured. A serial killer is stalking the dark halls, and Tommy must race against time to stop him as he’s singled out Tommy’s girlfriend as his next victim. I loved Thomas’ unique approach to the dystopian genre, and his writing kept me on edge all the way through! This one’s great for horror and dystopian fans alike so be sure not to miss it!
April 28, 2019
James M. Thomas’ A Game of Red is quite like a dystopian fiction about a few men tricked into believing that the apocalypse has come and thereby trapping them into underground. The Company, a group of elf proclaimed moralist in the name of catching the bad person starts to capture the innocents and tamper their memory using them as a part of game or social and psychological experiment. The novel is about how they defeat their enemy and come back to the world from underground.
The plot was well structured and was handled with quite dexterity. The narration was multi-dimensional, giving the reader a perspective from almost every character. Although Tommy seems to be the protagonist, as the story develops the readers realize that it is not just about Tommy and his girl-friend Dahria. A multi-layered approach in story-telling helps to establish this better.
The language is lucid and easily understandable. It explores the psychology of human being very well especially that of Phoenix. The sexual exploration of social pariah in his adolescence and why or rather ay how he become a psychopath has been given importance to and to the author’s credit he does make it seem like he in any way trying to gain sympathy from the readers.
However at times the novel becomes tedious and slow. Also a vivid description or a map of the underground tunnel would have added extra flavour to the plot. But all over it was quite nice for a onetime read. Often times the chilling portrayal of violence sends shiver down the spine. To conclude I think any thriller lover will enjoy reading this psychological thriller.
The plot was well structured and was handled with quite dexterity. The narration was multi-dimensional, giving the reader a perspective from almost every character. Although Tommy seems to be the protagonist, as the story develops the readers realize that it is not just about Tommy and his girl-friend Dahria. A multi-layered approach in story-telling helps to establish this better.
The language is lucid and easily understandable. It explores the psychology of human being very well especially that of Phoenix. The sexual exploration of social pariah in his adolescence and why or rather ay how he become a psychopath has been given importance to and to the author’s credit he does make it seem like he in any way trying to gain sympathy from the readers.
However at times the novel becomes tedious and slow. Also a vivid description or a map of the underground tunnel would have added extra flavour to the plot. But all over it was quite nice for a onetime read. Often times the chilling portrayal of violence sends shiver down the spine. To conclude I think any thriller lover will enjoy reading this psychological thriller.
October 3, 2020
My only regret when reading this was finding out it was part of a series. I wish I had read the first book before this! That said, the book stands alone. It’s a great story - full of suspense. The characters are strong and it is easy to put yourself in their place and wonder what you might do in the same situation. This is a great book which will appeal to many.
June 3, 2022
Genre mash-ups are a difficult and tricky business, but when executed well they truly outshine their individual genre counterparts. There is a certain spice and magic to the writer who can weave a psychological thriller seamlessly with a myopic culture’s creation of a dystopia with a salt bae dash of horror. James Thomas nails this baker’s extravaganza with his own ‘Mitch’s Beignets’ here within “A Game of Red.”
The opening scene sets the tone with an inspired viewpoint of a madman. It expounds upon the sheer terror of a psychotic and what said psychosis can inflict upon others. It is vividly woven tapestry with an almost absurdist take on what the onion would be like if it was the one doing the peeling, instead of being peeled itself. It sets the stage and immediately hooks.
The first half of the body falls into a steady rhythm of genre cross-pollination—a cat and mouse narrative and a subtle whodunnit. Save for maybe a single character, the main cast is introduced to the reader. Steadily a trail of breadcrumbs begins to form. The world begins small, but the framing (seemingly) becomes apparent and with every few a keen-eyed audience might pick-up on a red-herring and the Schrodinger's truth of Thomas’ narrative crumbs. The inner workings of each character take hold and the plot begins to quicken with their interpersonal relationships becoming more-and-more integral as the first part of the plot unfolds.
The second part sets up one last integral character and begins to pull the rug out from beneath the reader. The world opens-up and becomes twistedly clarified and almost becomes a character unto itself. Also provided are several inter-chapters that are essentially biographical vignettes for each of the characters, filling in their backstories while adding more context to the overall setting at hand. This remains entertaining but quickly gets back to the meat of the action and the heart of the narrative.
From a technical standpoint, James Thomas writes an ensemble cast. There is an obvious main protagonist, however, every major character gets his or her time to shine. Their individual histories are a nice touch for protagonists and antagonists alike. Thomas deftly sets up a scene and is descriptive, but not to a fault. Personally, the framework to how this particular world functions is sleight, but poignant. What is said actually matters—the proverbial fat has been trimmed and the writing is consistent which is refreshing.
As a caution to some readers, there are a few rather graphic sexually violent scenes that may dissuade a few from reading. They can be quite jarring, but it does flesh-out the depravity of the main villain and in the end achieves its intended result—evoking a strong emotional reaction. That being said, if you happen to be a psychological thriller, crime, and post-apocalyptic aficionado, “A Game of Red'' by James Thomas will be right-up your alley. It scratches multiple itches and by the end will have you most-likely asking for more.
Personally, I greatly enjoyed “A Game of Red.” I usually find myself tipping my cap to a writer who can adequately script a cross-genre piece. It truly is a sum greater than its parts, and Thomas does a good job organically splicing them all-together in a cohesive plot with little to nothing that seems out of place. I was intentionally vague on plot points, because I honestly think that this one is buoyed by its surprises and I would be remiss if I gave anything away. He is a writer that I would lookout for and if you see “A Game of Red” on shelves online or in a brick-and-mortar and you enjoy a tasty psychological thriller, I would say, “Snap it up!” I think you would be pleasantly surprised and have a good page-turner on your hands.
The opening scene sets the tone with an inspired viewpoint of a madman. It expounds upon the sheer terror of a psychotic and what said psychosis can inflict upon others. It is vividly woven tapestry with an almost absurdist take on what the onion would be like if it was the one doing the peeling, instead of being peeled itself. It sets the stage and immediately hooks.
The first half of the body falls into a steady rhythm of genre cross-pollination—a cat and mouse narrative and a subtle whodunnit. Save for maybe a single character, the main cast is introduced to the reader. Steadily a trail of breadcrumbs begins to form. The world begins small, but the framing (seemingly) becomes apparent and with every few a keen-eyed audience might pick-up on a red-herring and the Schrodinger's truth of Thomas’ narrative crumbs. The inner workings of each character take hold and the plot begins to quicken with their interpersonal relationships becoming more-and-more integral as the first part of the plot unfolds.
The second part sets up one last integral character and begins to pull the rug out from beneath the reader. The world opens-up and becomes twistedly clarified and almost becomes a character unto itself. Also provided are several inter-chapters that are essentially biographical vignettes for each of the characters, filling in their backstories while adding more context to the overall setting at hand. This remains entertaining but quickly gets back to the meat of the action and the heart of the narrative.
From a technical standpoint, James Thomas writes an ensemble cast. There is an obvious main protagonist, however, every major character gets his or her time to shine. Their individual histories are a nice touch for protagonists and antagonists alike. Thomas deftly sets up a scene and is descriptive, but not to a fault. Personally, the framework to how this particular world functions is sleight, but poignant. What is said actually matters—the proverbial fat has been trimmed and the writing is consistent which is refreshing.
As a caution to some readers, there are a few rather graphic sexually violent scenes that may dissuade a few from reading. They can be quite jarring, but it does flesh-out the depravity of the main villain and in the end achieves its intended result—evoking a strong emotional reaction. That being said, if you happen to be a psychological thriller, crime, and post-apocalyptic aficionado, “A Game of Red'' by James Thomas will be right-up your alley. It scratches multiple itches and by the end will have you most-likely asking for more.
Personally, I greatly enjoyed “A Game of Red.” I usually find myself tipping my cap to a writer who can adequately script a cross-genre piece. It truly is a sum greater than its parts, and Thomas does a good job organically splicing them all-together in a cohesive plot with little to nothing that seems out of place. I was intentionally vague on plot points, because I honestly think that this one is buoyed by its surprises and I would be remiss if I gave anything away. He is a writer that I would lookout for and if you see “A Game of Red” on shelves online or in a brick-and-mortar and you enjoy a tasty psychological thriller, I would say, “Snap it up!” I think you would be pleasantly surprised and have a good page-turner on your hands.
April 8, 2019
Very suspenseful, this book kept me guessing until the end, and I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen! Highly Recommend!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews