It's Signature Week here in the Gay Authors News Blog. The week, our featured story is "The Game" by Nephylim. If you haven't already done so, you can download your Signature Background for the story either with or without the calendar. I hope you enjoy this review by Jo Ann and don't forget to check back on Wednesday for an interview with Nephylim!

Reviewer: Joann414
Status: Complete
Word Count: 56,034

When we think of games lots of things come to mind. There's board games, sports games. puzzle games, video games, card games and of course mind games. Well, Nephylim's game is one that will surprise you, puzzle you, tax your mind, and frankly, scare the hell out of you.

When I told Cia that I would do this review I looked at the length of the story and decided I could easily knock it out in two or three days, reading it at my leisure. That wasn't the case. Once I started reading about Daniel, his best friend Annie, along with a host of other characters I couldn't stop. I tried to leave a review for each chapter but I think I missed a couple because I wanted to read on and see what was going to happen in the next part.

The Game is a story with human players and eventually human pawns that may face death in the end if they are the key player. Daniel, the main character is the end player and the opposing team will stop at nothing to win even if it means removing Daniel's memory or maybe even killing him.

"The only rule of the game is to win and either side will stop at nothing to achieve it." That's quite the understatement. Such a calm description from an author that takes you on a ride through hell and back.

After the opposing team kidnaps Daniel, Simon and Annie, Daniel's best friend are doing everything they can to find him. Annie and Daniel even have a psychic connection, but Annie is unable to use this to find him since the opposing team has erased Daniel's memory and there's nothing for her to see so that they can find him. When Daniel tries to remember, it causes pain that he can hardly withstand.

"It feels cold, stingingly cold, as it is carrying slivers of ice through my body." Professor Bowen who works with the opposing side administers quite the injection to cause this kind of reaction by Daniel. I could almost feel his pain as I read the words.

Although Daniel is released to somewhat of a halfway house, Professor Bowen still makes his visits to be sure that his memory stays blank.

The caretakes, Lily and Shaun begin to realize something is not right but are afraid not to administer the meds that they are instructed to give Daniel everyday.
Both Shaun and Lily begin to feel for Daniel on a personal level.

Daniel is put through so much that he doesn't even remember who he is or what he looks like. ...because the face in the mirror is surely the face of a woman and I am...I am...not...am.. (Yeah, kinda scary wondering if you are a man or woman, but after checking out other body parts it's plain that he is indeed a man.

How far does trust go even with your own players? When do you get to the point of saying to hell with the game, I want to find my friend? Simon thinks never, Annie is ready now.

As you read this story, every character serves a major purpose. There's really not a "cameo" as they call it in the movies. You, as the reader wonder who he or she is and what they are going to do. Are they a good guy or bad guy? Can Daniel trust anyone but himself and Annie? You'll have to read and find out. The Game is a story not to be missed.

One of the things that impressed me in the writing of this story was the author's ability to go from soothingly beautiful descriptions to something that made you go, "Oh my god!" My favorite was in one of her descriptions of her main character, Daniel.

"a face that would make angels cry" Now, that's how you describe a character! Wish I'd wrote that.

In all seriousness, I was a little vague purposely because this is one of those stories that you look at and say, "I don't think I'll like that." Well, as the saying goes,' Don't judge a book by it's cover'. It's fantastic and I didn't want to give away too many juicy and exciting details. I want you to have to figure it out like I did as I read the story.

End note. When I read this story, I couldn't help but leave reviews because it deserved them. As I said above, I read it all in one sitting. Well, to give this author a much deserved plug, she responded to all of the reviews on the same day. Thanks, Nephylim.