Thank you Netgalley for this arc. I really liked this book and the cover is stunning. I was really excited to get this book as an arc. I wanted to read this one so bad. I gave this 4 stars.

things get worse and worse. a story that has definite suspense but focuses more on the sheer horror of a town tearing itself apart. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Based on an urban legend about a video game that can cause changes in people's brains, I was really excited to read this. I had never heard of Polybius before. This book was very tense, as the effects of the game begin to permeate the town. This book was very violent. It is awful to see how quickly a group of people can devolve into extreme violence. The scariest part of the book was how believable it was, that the government would destroy an entire town to cover up what happened there. I received a free copy from NetGalley and the publisher. I voluntarily wrote this review.

What a captivating read about a game come to life. Although I read most of this novel throughout the middle of the night when I could not sleep, it kept me entertained enough to keep turning the page.

Stop me if you've heard this one before: Back in the early 1980s, a brand new game that nobody has ever heard of shows up in the local arcade. People can't get enough of it, but soon those gamers are acting strange. Zombie-like trances, sudden outbursts of violence. Well, it turns out the game is part of a top-secret government experiment that fries people brains! Oh no!

It's an urban legend from the 90s, and it serves as the basis for the debut novel from Collin Armstrong. It plays out like a Stephen King novel. We get a sense of what life in like in the sleepy town of Tasker Bay, CA, and get the know the people who live there. Soon enough, the new machine arrives in town and people start acting funny. Then they start acting violent. Then the bodies pile up like so much firewood right up until the genuinely shocking final act.

Good for fans of King, Project SCP, and Stranger Things.

The whole idea behind this is intriguing, essentially a video game that drives its users to become violent and obsessive. The horror elements in this were great, the details at times made me cringe… which I love in horror books. My main issue with this book is it felt like it went on longer than it should have, and was pretty repetitive at times. The consistent POV switches within the chapter were hard to read, you’d sometimes read 5-6 different POV’s within a chapter.

I also need to note how the ending felt unsatisfying. There was such a build up to destroying the game, but in the end it just fell flat. Overall, I don't think it's a bad book, especially as a debut.

Polybius by Collin Armstrong is a story that takes place in the 80s revolving around video game that makes its users experience blackouts, episodes of violence, and hysteria. Based off of an urban legend of a government conducted psychological experiment this was a gem to read and I look forward to reading more from Collin Armstrong in the future.

I heard about this internet urban legend before, so I was intrigued by the idea of a full-length book based on the idea. This was an early review copy, and read like it needed a bit more editing. There was some bad grammar and incorrect sentence structure here and there, as well as an over abundance of commas.

I hate giving this note, but there was quite a bit of telling rather than showing for some of the initial chapters. (Summarizing the situations for the characters, how they feel about each other, an explanation of their personal history, etc. No actual examples of these things in action.)

What I did appreciate were the short sections. I like being able to read a book in brief bursts because of my uncooperative attention span. However, the constant back and forth between multiple characters’ POV and the frequent introduction of various new names and faces had me constantly fatigued. There were so many townspeople that when some of them showed back up later I didn’t remember what they had done in previous chapters or how I was supposed to remember them.

I didn’t feel the chemistry between Andi and Ro. It seemed forced. Some of their dialogue sounded artificial, also. A major issue for me was that I didn’t really care about any of these characters. Ro’s ex was pretty likable, but she sort of took a backseat for much of the plot.

There are multiple reviews that mention pacing issues and I couldn’t agree more. The middle of this has sections that feel both slow and repetitive, with too much switching between POVs, and then at the end there’s a whole lot of stuff happening all at once and the action is confusing in places.

I wanted more of the creepy video game narrative. Much of this read like a Needful Things sort of story, with a town tearing itself apart with violence. And the blurb that compares it to Stranger Things? Not very accurate.

The ending was fine, but it didn’t work for me. I can’t say for sure how I would have done it differently.

Cool cover, though!

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Biggest TW: Animal harm/Death

This was such a fun read, I flew through it in two days. A new arcade game shows up at Andi's work and it seems everyone in town is infatuated with it. Andi and her crush Ro realize that the game is affecting people in a negative way. Almost everyone in their town is becoming aggressive and crime is escalating. But what makes this game so special? Andi and Ro have to race against time to figure out if they can save everyone. This book was perfect for the spooky season, seeing as it takes place during Halloween. I loved the retro vibes of the 80s and I think this would make a really good movie. I also learned that this is based on an urban legend that I had never heard of so that was interesting.

REALLY out of my comfort zone this read, but I liked it! Being from San Jose, I LOVED the references to SJ, Mercury News, etc! It def lived up to the hype of stranger things x walking dead. It kept me engaged, 80s vibes for sure! I liked it!

A rage virus (psychological rather than biological) horror story set in a small town in the ‘80s with strong Stranger Things vibes.

It had a great concept, but the ending was a weak point for me. I also would have preferred just Andi’’s POV, the main character’s, instead of seeing the perspectives of various citizens of the town.

The book would make for a good Halloween read.

Loved the 1980s nostalgia and suspense! The book is aet in the small town of Tasker Bay, and follows tech-savvy teen Andi and local outcast Ro as they uncover the dark mystery behind a new arcade game that seems to spark chaos and violence. With its fast-paced storytelling, vivid setting, and compelling characters, Polybius keeps readers hooked from start to finish. While some aspects of the legend could have been explored more deeply, the book delivers an entertaining and atmospheric ride. Overall I enjoyed it.

This is a really cool, and suspenseful, story based of the urban legend of the game with the same name.

In this novel, we meet Andi-a teen who is a whiz when it comes to electronics. She has big plans and has no desire to become chummy with any of her fellow schoolmates. But Ro has his eye on her, and works up the courage to talk to her. And so start their journey into figuring out why the people in the town of Tasker Bay had suddenly become violent.

Armstrong wastes no time creating suspense in this story. From the very beginning, it’s clear that there’s something wrong with the one-of-a-kind gaming machine, and for anyone who plays it. And once it gets to Tasker Bay, the effects of the game emerge 100 fold. The author brings the terror to the reader through the inner dialogue of fellow players, nightmarish visions, and sudden bloody actions. He also clues us into the sinister motives behind the game, and who’s to blame for the devastation raining down on the small California town.

But the bleak landscape is matched with determined fighters in Andi, Ro, and their parents-as they try to find a solution to the problem before it’s too late. Andi is sharp, whip-smart, and a force to be reckoned with. And even thought she is initially prickly and stand-offish, Ro-through his consistency and kindness persistence-allows her to open herself up to friendship and caring for others. They make a solid duo, and help to convince their parents to fight with them.

I enjoyed this novel. It was well-written, kept me engaged, and ended on a somber, but fitting, note. Fans of horror and gaming novels will love this one.

This book was a fun ride. I'm not sure it's as "Stranger Things" outside of an 80s nostalgic feel. I thought the setting of the town was great. The book tackles a lot of societal anxieties that are still relevant today such as gentrification, financial insecurity, and government intervention in everyday people's lives. It is fast-paced and I think that helps to hide some of the cracks. There are a few things that don't land but the story keeps moving and keeps you engaged.

I had such a fun time with this.
I enjoyed the multi POVs (done in a very Stephen King kind of way), I enjoyed the pacing, I enjoyed how imaginative this was. It is a little graphic at times, you've been warned.

My only gripe is, I felt that the romance aspect was unnecessary. I understand it was used to bring Ro & Andi together but they could have just been friends and it was have done the same thing for the story.

I was sold on the Stranger Things meets Walking Dead. And the setting is a small seaside town? All right up my early. The setting makes the story immersive and I felt like I truly was living in the 80s. I enjoy books that take out the technology of cellphones and computers. A little too much switching between POVs at times, but otherwise a dark and fun story..

This book is based on an urban legend video game that messes with the people who play with it. They start by becoming almost addicted to it and then start acting differently. The craze for the game spreads like a virus into the community.

It had a great concept, but it fell flat for me. However, it did have great vibes of the 1980s era on which it was based and it was quite fun. I can’t pinpoint exactly what it lacked, but it did drag on at times and the pacing seemed off. I think some extra editing might help spruce this up a bit.

I still recommend this to anyone who loves nostalgic urban legends based in the 80s. I would give this 3.5 stars and round up to 4 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Gallery Books for giving me a DRC of this book. The opinion in this review is my own.

2⭐️

The premise of this book was really interesting and fairly unique. A retro video game causing the community members become obsessive and aggressive. I really liked this concept but unfortunately it just wasn't executed great.

This book really struggled with pacing and too many povs. It was really hard to get connected with any of the characters. The pacing also was a bit all over the place. Super fast at times while dragging during others.

I think readers who enjoy the nostalgia of this feeling in the 80s/90s could enjoy this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books. My review is voluntarily my own.

A new video game console shows up at the arcade where Andi works. She’s a wiz with machines and keeps the games running. When people become addicted to the game and it leads to violent behavior, Andi finds that this console is unlike anything she’s ever seen. With Ro, the sherrif’s son, Andi sets out to find out where Polybius came from and if there’s a way to stop its vicious hold on players.

I listened to a podcast about Polybius a few years ago, and I’ve been fascinated with the urban legend of such a mysterious video game. So when I saw this fiction book, I immediately wanted to read it.

Unfortunately, it fell a little short for me. I think it was a difficult undertaking to mold an utban legend into a fully fleshed out narrative that’s compelling and well-rounded. I liked the idea and the overall plot, but I got a tad bored in the middle. I felt that the story dragged a little. It was a solid effort, however, and if you like slasher vibes with a video game twist and 80s/90s nostalgia, this one might be for you.

Wow... that was.. something..

I really enjoyed the plot of this book. A game that brain washed it players, conspiracies.. all that.

The writing style was a little harder for me but all around was a great read!