A Game In Yellow seems a lot like Robert W. Chambers erotic fanfic to me- though I'll admit I haven't read the source material, which made it tricky to tell what's creative reimagining and what's original lore. At the center of the story are Carmen and Blanca, a young couple caught in that intense, everything-feels-life-or-death phase of a relationship. Carmen becomes fixated on what she sees as their sexual problems - though I was never sure if these issues were real or just in her head.

The setup has potential - an underground drug den where they meet the enigmatic Smoke, who deals out passages from a cursed play. Read just enough without going mad, and apparently you get this survivor's euphoria that gets you super horny. But while these elements hint at cosmic dread, they never quite coalesce into something truly unsettling. I found myself more drawn to the supernatural elements - the reality-warping effects of the play, the mysterious Smoke, the hints of something larger lurking at the edges of reality - but even these took too long to really manifest.

I found myself disconnected from pretty much everything about Carmen and Blanca's relationship. Carmen's desperate pursuit of... something... left me baffled - I couldn't grasp what was driving her or why everything felt so urgent. Maybe it's that particular brand of twenty-something relationship intensity that I just can't relate to anymore. And while I have no judgment about how other people choose to explore intimacy and power dynamics, the sexual content here felt needlessly complicated and fraught. It didn't help that Blanca remains this oddly distant figure throughout the story, making it even harder to understand what exactly Carmen was so worked up about.

The ending finally delivers the cosmic horror I was waiting for, but getting there means wading through relationship drama and sexual tension that I never cared about. I wanted more weird horror and less of everything else.

The Game in Yellow is a story about a codependent, dysfunctional lesbian couple, Carmen and Blanca, who partake in BDSM and are looking for ways to help Carmen feel connected to Blanca again when they do so, thus encountering a strange source of ecstasy that comes from reading a play titled: The King in Yellow.

This book unfortunately didn’t live up to my expectations. The synopsis says “Euphoria meets Thing’s Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke” and I didn’t get either of those from this. I went in with high expectations and left being disappointed. I felt bored when reading and getting to know this story and these characters and I felt a detachment from the whole thing. I think the concept is strong but not executed very well. The writing is not bad but it’s also not good. Some parts made me cringe and in others I felt like the author was trying really really hard to put you there with Carmen and it ultimately failed.

Thank you Netgally for letting me read this story in exchange for an honest review.

This wasn't at all what I expected, not usually my kind of read but I enjoyed it. The characters were really well developed and I absolutely loved the use of King on Yellow as a device for sexual exploration and, eventually, full-on insanity.

I liked this up until the second act started. it was a singular written book about 2 dimensional characters that seemed to get worse before it got better. i understood what piper was going for and this was definitely weird girl lit, but i just stopped enjoying myself. towards the end, it was giving more literary than anything and i was just over the abstractedness of the novel. so i skimmed. i left the book satisfied though; the body horror at the end was very satisfying.

A Game in Yellow is disturbing. But don’t take that the wrong way. It’s disturbing in the way a work of horror fiction should be — filled with eerie creeping dread that oozes into your brain, and provoking uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, as you interact with the prose. This novel will, like its protagonist, push you to the brink and leave you transformed.
In Piper’s A Game in Yellow, we meet Carmen and Blanca, a kinky couple whose relationship is cracking because of Carmen’s increasing emotional distance. To help her lover, Blanca finds a “third”, Smoke, to bring into their sexual play and lives. Smoke introduces Carmen to the cursed play, The King in Yellow. Reading this work will lead to insanity and death — but if one reads but a little and stops, the reader experiences a rush of drug-like euphoria. Desperate to feel again and be with Blanca, Carmen reads from the play, and soon becomes obsessed. The result is a walk through loneliness and longing, regret, and addiction and an inexorable spiral into the void.
A Game in Yellow pulled me in and gripped me in a yellow taloned hand. I felt in equal measures turned on and profoundly discomfited - to where, twice while reading chapters before sleeping, nightmares jolted me awake, terrified while I fumbled for the light and peered into the corners of the room for shadow cloaked figures. (To be fair, I have an overactive imagination, and am prone to weird, unsettling dreams.).
The pace of the book was relentless, and I lost myself, immersed in Piper’s prose. Though not into “kink” myself, I applaud the author’s ability to bring me into this world and make me see through the character’s eyes to appreciate all their different shades of humanity — the sexy parts, the ugly parts, the painful parts.
I cannot recommend this book enough. A Game in Yellow is unflinching, glorious, and casts a dark glamour over you that you won’t soon forget as the twin suns sink behind the lake, and the shadows lengthen in Carcosa.

3.5 stars

This queer, erotic horror novel left my head spinning. The book is very hard to pin down as far as genre. There are elements of a psychological thriller, a dark romance, and horror, but none of these really comes to the forefront for me.

The story revolves around a queer couple, Carmen and Blanca, looking for something to spice up their intimate life. There is heavy kink here, so be aware. Blanca takes Carmen to see Smoke, a person who has a book, the King in Yellow, which supposedly can drive a reader to erotic heights or drive them insane. After Carmen’s first experience with the book, things go off the rails.

This book is nor for everyone. I would not recommend it widely, however for those readers that it is for, I say give it a chance. This one was not for me as I struggled to find a consistent narrative and some of the jumps from the mundane to the extreme were jarring and made it difficult for me to follow. The sections of the book where we are reading from the “play” were confusing, but your experience may be different.

There were elements of this story that were truly horrific, including some scenes involving Carmen’s co-workers. The storytelling style was sometimes dreamlike, sometimes brutal, and if this author is a favorite, I can see how this book would draw you in.

Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for the eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Special thanks to @netgalley and @sagapressbooks for the eARC!

The strange and unsettling story of “The King in Yellow” has been a favorite of mine since first discovering Robert W. Chambers short stories as well as a setting in a favorite tabletop game of mine. When I saw @haileypiperfights upcoming novel #AGameInYellow, I was instantly sold.

Carmen finds herself striving to feel something again, and with the help of her girlfriend Blanca, explores the world of kink and BDSM in hopes of reigniting that fire. When that doesn’t do the job, Blanca and Carmen look to a mysterious stranger named Smoke to help, and Carmen is introduced to the power of an incomplete play called “The King in Yellow.” With Smoke’s assistance, Carmen is pushed to the edge when she reads the play, and finds the fire within her again. But as Carmen’s curiosity grows, the mysteries of the play begin to permeate all aspects of her life. Pushed closer and closer to the center of the play, Carmen inexplicably pushes those around her away.

There’s so much about this book to enjoy as a horror novel, but most importantly is the authors handling of the kink aspect. Piper’s novel is a celebration of kink and everything that it can be, with realities about trust and boundaries laid out expertly. She does a fantastic job of not making kink a joke or perversion, taking what could be an easy fetishization trope and giving it depth and nuance.

That said, I wasn’t overly in love with the story, despite knowing enough about the source material. I couldn’t imagine coming into the story with no background on Chamber’s short stories. The interspersed play script sections are well written, but something about them just felt out of place within the context of the story (that said, the script scenes at the end of the book were 🤌🏼) The play functions in a way that will be familiar to people who have seen “Smile” or “Talk to Me,” creating this alternate and just off-kilter reality. The danger of what the play is and can do is more important, in my opinion, than how the play unfolds to the reader. We get a taste of the destruction potential, and I wish there had been more of that external chaos manifesting itself as opposed to the internal world Carmen finds herself in. Entirely a personal preference and none of that to take away from Piper’s excellent character writing, particularly in Carmen’s reflection/inner monologue moments.

Piper’s novel is both a challenging and dark look at relationships and the lengths we go to save them, whether they should be saved or not.

Carmen and Blanca are exploring new kinks, and Blanca introduces Carmen to “Smoke” and a mysterious book called The King in Yellow. Carmen gets totally hooked on the eerie play, which mixes erotica and suspense in a way that’s both unsettling and intriguing. I gave it three stars—felt a little too intense at times—but someone else might love it! If you’re into plays, historical nonfiction, or just like your kinks with a side of creepy, this one's for you. Hailey Piper’s modern twist on the classic is definitely wild!

(4.25)

This is the first book by Piper that I’ve read and it was a disorienting (in a good way), spellbinding journey. Piper’s writing is impeccable. The pacing was quite slower than I expected and there was a lot of abstract moments that sometimes made it feel like you’re floating in space lost, BUT the last 25% (or so) of this book is masterful, cosmic horror at its finest! One of those rare books where I think the ending was the best and only way for this story to end. Bravo. If you’re a fan of atmospheric, slow burns, I highly recommend. I look forward to reading more of Piper’s work!

Thank you SagaPress and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a unique story from anything I’ve read before.
Carmen and Blanca are together, and Carmen is struggling to fulfill her sexual needs and Blanca is trying her best to discover new kinks to try. Blanca had discovered something new to try and introduces Carmen to Smoke. Smoke then reveals a book called “The King in Yellow”. From here the story gets very interesting as to the effect that the book has on Carmen and how mesmerized she is by this play.
This book is a great combination of erotica and thrilling. I personally gave it three stars because it was unsettling for me at times, but I feel as though this could easily be 5 stars for someone else. If you are interested in plays and historical nonfiction this would also be a great read for you. It was definitely fascinating how Hailey Piper used The King in Yellow play and applied it to a modern-day scene. I would love to read more by Haley Piper!
Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for the eARC!

Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7183490173?book_show_action=false
TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTYwkdDXd/

I read half of this ARC and couldn’t go any further. The beginning is good, promising. Two women are in a relationship. One is going through an existential and sexual crisis the other is very patient, trying to help. Dump in another woman into the mix really early on and now I have a hard time distinguishing who from who or what was happening or what just happened or what was real. It felt like the author was trying to add too many things in. A simpler more straight forward story would’ve suited me better. It also felt like the story took way too long to get into a true horror, substantial plot. I’m in the h’s head for a while and she’s just repeating her misery and frustrations and confusion to me. Sorry. No.

*Thank you H. Piper and S&S/Saga Press for, A Game in Yellow ARC. My opinions are my own.

This is a novel filled with emotions, pathos, sexual kinks, and is unrelentingly terrifying.

The main characters are three queer women. Carmen and Blanca are having relationship issues when they meet a woman named Smoke who promises help through an old tome, a play. One which is cursed and causes madness in those who read too much at a time.

It works but Carmen soon becomes obsessed with this play and soon starts suffering nightmares, blurring the line between reality and fiction. When you read this book, the book also reads you.

That's all tha description I'll give because you'll want to read for yourself. It's one of those novels you can't put down and gives it's secrets over time as the dizzying and absolutely nightmarish narrative captures your attention and refuses it's hold.

This will be one of the best horror books of the year and I can't recommend it enough. You'll get all the feels and think about it long after finishing.

The main character was so codependent and had such an unhealthy relationship with their partner that it made it impossible to care that their intimacy was fading.

Also the play sections had potential to add more dark/horror elements to the story, but even that didn’t deliver.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

This book was an interesting premise, but I do not believe that I would recommend it to a friend. This book focuses largely on BDSM, which I know is a very popular genre... however it is not something I choose to read often.

The story begins with introducing you to Carmen and Blanca, a queer couple, struggling intimately. After trying many methods to spice up their love life, they result to seeking out a third party, a character named Smoke. Smoke introduces Carmen and Blanca to a play. From there, well shit hits the fan.

There were some points during the story that I struggled to understand what was going on, and I don't believe that the questions that arise during the plot are ever answered. This could be intentional, but I am not sure. The first 70% of the book is pretty laborious with nothing really happening, once you hit the turning point it is a quick trip to the bottom. There are characters, we are introduced to who impact the story and are impacted by the events in the story but then are never mentioned again.

I feel that this book was focused more on erotica and BDSM than any real plot, unfortunately. If that is your jam, then more power to you. But I wouldn't waste too much time on it.

Hailey Piper’s A Game in Yellow is a book for queer little freaks who like a bit of Shibari with their Lynchian fever dreams.

Carmen and Blanca have been pushing the boundaries of their sex life, but Carmen remains shamefully unsatisfied. There’s rich descriptions of Blanca, a fat woman whose size is eroticized without being fetishized, and the play scenes are written with queer people in mind, there’s no hand holding for outsiders on how they’re having sex. Very refreshing.

Blanca takes Carmen to a rundown, former tenement that labyrinths like a Gaspar Noe movie through glimpses of the city’s underbelly. Their destination is Smoke, a woman with a book that gives reader’s the endorphins of survivorship and reignites Carmen’s desires. But like a drug, Carmen wants more and is warned that overindulgence will lead to madness.

The book, the play “The King in Yellow,” is woven throughout our narrative and is purposefully difficult to follow. Yes, they’re a bit of a slog and you’ll want to rush back to the uncomfortable, erotic world of our protagonist, but the play subtly builds up in creative, unreliable character development.

Any critiques that I may have (more character development, more lore) feel like intentional, strong ideas by the author. This novel is a real craft work. Piper is one to watch in the horror genre.

Thank you for allowing me to read this arc.
Great book.
Cant wait for my friends to read.
Have to go look up this author now.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this eerie and captivating book!

Hailey Piper delivers a haunting, disorienting tale in A Game in Yellow. I found myself often feeling unsettled, experiencing the same disorientation as Carmen as the story unfolded. Piper’s ability to weave an atmosphere of dread and sensuality is impressive, making this a unique read.

That said, I went into the book without much knowledge of The King in Yellow lore, which left me feeling a bit confused at times. While the ambiguity added to the unsettling vibe, I couldn’t help but wish for just a little more grounding. Additionally, the three main characters felt slightly underdeveloped—I wanted to understand their motivations more deeply.

Still, for anyone seeking an erotic yet eerie experience, A Game in Yellow is an excellent choice.

This book was hot, a good psychological thriller. I wasn’t a huge fan of the play format - think it threw me off a bit, but I still enjoyed the book.

3.5 stars rounded up.

The novel centers on a very dysfunctional & codependent relationship, one filled with obsessions and desires. How far will one of them go to achieve what they search for?
I felt that the reader doesn't really get a good grip on either Carmen or Blanca's characters, and we only really see them through the lens of their relationship (troubles).
The 'play within the book' parts are abstract and esoteric, but don't really mesh well with the main narrative (whose focus is more on Carmen & Blanca's lives and how they're drifting apart). There are occasional eerie moments here and there (that initial vision of something coming through the wall was great), but it doesn't feel like a horror narrative for most of "A Game in Yellow".
The last 20% or so percent of the book is where the story truly picks up, and it was like finally reading the cosmic horror novel that I was hoping for. It's plot became grand and so dark, and ends in such a perfect way. If the whole of it was focused on the weird stuff, I'd love it WAY more.

Refreshing take on the King in Yellow. Made a lot more sense than how similar stories have approached queering Lovecraft. Nonwhite and trans identities being centered was really refreshing. I would say that several of the BSDM scenes didn’t quite sell it. Hailey Piper’s other works haven’t really ever clicked with me, but this one, I couldn’t put down. Well-written and exciting!