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A Game in Yellow
Not yet published
Expected 12 Aug 25Euphoria meets Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke in this latest novel by the Bram Stoker Award–winning author Hailey Piper, following a couple whose search to spice up their sex life leads them down a path of madness.
A kink-fixated couple, Carmen and Blanca, have been in a rut. That is until Blanca discovers the enigmatic Smoke in an under-street drug den, who holds pages to a strange play, The King in Yellow. Read too much, and you’ll fall into madness. But read just a little and pull back, and it gives you the adrenaline rush of survivor’s euphoria, leading Carmen to fall into a game of lust at a nightmare’s edge.
As the line blurs between the world Carmen knows and the one that she visits after reading from the play, she begins to desire more time in this other world no matter what horrors she brings back with her.
Bram Stoker Award–winning author Hailey Piper masterfully blends horror, erotica, and psychological thriller in this captivating and chilling story.
A kink-fixated couple, Carmen and Blanca, have been in a rut. That is until Blanca discovers the enigmatic Smoke in an under-street drug den, who holds pages to a strange play, The King in Yellow. Read too much, and you’ll fall into madness. But read just a little and pull back, and it gives you the adrenaline rush of survivor’s euphoria, leading Carmen to fall into a game of lust at a nightmare’s edge.
As the line blurs between the world Carmen knows and the one that she visits after reading from the play, she begins to desire more time in this other world no matter what horrors she brings back with her.
Bram Stoker Award–winning author Hailey Piper masterfully blends horror, erotica, and psychological thriller in this captivating and chilling story.
288 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 12, 2025
10 people are currently reading
1,636 people want to read
About the author
Hailey Piper
101books886followersHailey Piper is the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Queen of Teeth, A Game in Yellow, A Light Most Hateful, The Worm and His Kings, No Gods for Drowning, Cranberry Cove, and other books of dark fiction.
She is also the author of over 100 short stories appearing in Weird Tales, Pseudopod, Cosmic Horror Monthly, and various other publications, and of articles appearing in Writer's Digest, Tor Nightfire, CrimeReads, and Library Journal. Find her at .
She is also the author of over 100 short stories appearing in Weird Tales, Pseudopod, Cosmic Horror Monthly, and various other publications, and of articles appearing in Writer's Digest, Tor Nightfire, CrimeReads, and Library Journal. Find her at .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
March 17, 2025
“The King in Yellow� is a sort of literary urban legend that I had heard of before. It’s a play that supposedly drives you insane if you read it. Well, what if people micro-dosed that play by reading just a little bit of it at a time? That’s the brilliantly creative premise of this story.
I had minimal experience with Hailey Piper's writing before this. There was a short story called “The Vermin Moon� that I really enjoyed in a Winter story collection called “The Darkest Night,� and I also liked her novel “Queen of Teeth.� I'm really glad that I was able to read an early copy of this one!
Main character Carmen is losing her sex drive, worrying that her girlfriend Blanca will leave her if she can’t get her desire back in line. She loves Blanca but nothing seems to excite her anymore. Carmen is completely convinced that she is the problem and struggles with her self-esteem. Blanca suggests meeting up with a mysterious new figure who has access to something that may help put the spice back in their bedroom. But it will come at a cost.
This book is a trippy experience. You become a participant, reading excerpts of the play yourself. I admittedly had some trouble following those short sections, but I loved the way they were incorporated into the larger story. It all felt very cinematic. There were moments that absolutely had a “Black Swan� feel to them. Piper is skilled at creating an atmosphere in which something isn’t right, but you can’t put your finger on what it is. The air is thick with paranoia and you’re not sure what’s real and what isn’t. And you're watching Carmen unravel in real time.
I don't want to give too much away, because part of the fun of reading this was discovering where the plot was going.
I will say that I didn’t completely understand the game that Carmen and Blanca were playing within their relationship. I know that it was fully consensual and about surrendering control, and that there were clear rules established, but it seemed as if neither of them were really that happy. The dynamics between those two were confusing to me.The further into the story I got, the more I started to feel like a Reddit commenter typing, “You should just break up.� But I also can't question what I don't understand.
This is a good recommendation for anyone who likes strange, art-themed horror and plots that are twisty and surreal.
I caught all of those Tori Amos references, BTW� ;)
Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Biggest TW: Body shaming, Self-Harm
I had minimal experience with Hailey Piper's writing before this. There was a short story called “The Vermin Moon� that I really enjoyed in a Winter story collection called “The Darkest Night,� and I also liked her novel “Queen of Teeth.� I'm really glad that I was able to read an early copy of this one!
Main character Carmen is losing her sex drive, worrying that her girlfriend Blanca will leave her if she can’t get her desire back in line. She loves Blanca but nothing seems to excite her anymore. Carmen is completely convinced that she is the problem and struggles with her self-esteem. Blanca suggests meeting up with a mysterious new figure who has access to something that may help put the spice back in their bedroom. But it will come at a cost.
This book is a trippy experience. You become a participant, reading excerpts of the play yourself. I admittedly had some trouble following those short sections, but I loved the way they were incorporated into the larger story. It all felt very cinematic. There were moments that absolutely had a “Black Swan� feel to them. Piper is skilled at creating an atmosphere in which something isn’t right, but you can’t put your finger on what it is. The air is thick with paranoia and you’re not sure what’s real and what isn’t. And you're watching Carmen unravel in real time.
I don't want to give too much away, because part of the fun of reading this was discovering where the plot was going.
I will say that I didn’t completely understand the game that Carmen and Blanca were playing within their relationship. I know that it was fully consensual and about surrendering control, and that there were clear rules established, but it seemed as if neither of them were really that happy. The dynamics between those two were confusing to me.The further into the story I got, the more I started to feel like a Reddit commenter typing, “You should just break up.� But I also can't question what I don't understand.
This is a good recommendation for anyone who likes strange, art-themed horror and plots that are twisty and surreal.
I caught all of those Tori Amos references, BTW� ;)
Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Biggest TW: Body shaming, Self-Harm
February 7, 2025
“Somewhere between terror and madness lies ecstasy. Or is it that somewhere between terror and ecstasy lies madness?�
'The King in Yellow' has long been whispered about. It's said that anyone who reads those stories may eventually lose their sanity. With every page turned, readers seem to lose more and more of themselves. 'A Game in Yellow' takes that concept and creates something unique. Are you ready to transform your life?
I went into this book without knowing much about it. I had heard it was compared to the work of Eric LaRocca, so that was enough to draw me in before I even turned the first page.
This book was a bit confusing at first. There was a particular 'Queen' song that kept playing in my mind on repeat, and then I finally understood what it was all about. It’s wild, but it works so well in this context.
Once things started to fall into place, that’s when the book truly hit me. I was hooked from that moment on. The characters were unpredictable, and you never knew what they were up to until it was all revealed. Sometimes you can guess what’s coming, but not here. There’s no way to anticipate it, and I was amazed. I find myself shaking my head at how uniquely bizarre it was, yet it never detracted from the reading experience.
'A Game in Yellow' was a truly bizarre read and one that I really enjoyed.
Don’t forget your safeword�.
'The King in Yellow' has long been whispered about. It's said that anyone who reads those stories may eventually lose their sanity. With every page turned, readers seem to lose more and more of themselves. 'A Game in Yellow' takes that concept and creates something unique. Are you ready to transform your life?
I went into this book without knowing much about it. I had heard it was compared to the work of Eric LaRocca, so that was enough to draw me in before I even turned the first page.
This book was a bit confusing at first. There was a particular 'Queen' song that kept playing in my mind on repeat, and then I finally understood what it was all about. It’s wild, but it works so well in this context.
Once things started to fall into place, that’s when the book truly hit me. I was hooked from that moment on. The characters were unpredictable, and you never knew what they were up to until it was all revealed. Sometimes you can guess what’s coming, but not here. There’s no way to anticipate it, and I was amazed. I find myself shaking my head at how uniquely bizarre it was, yet it never detracted from the reading experience.
'A Game in Yellow' was a truly bizarre read and one that I really enjoyed.
Don’t forget your safeword�.
February 11, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐
📅 Pub Date: August 12, 2025
Sadly, this one didn’t work for me. I found myself dreading picking it up again because it just felt like a drag. The writing was overly complex, and I kept having to stop to look up words, which really broke the flow for me.
I also felt like the intimate/BDSM scenes between Carmen and Blanca were a bit repetitive. Their relationship struggles were central to the story, but I couldn’t connect with them. We get a little bit of background on their pasts, but not enough to really care about their dynamic. Carmen’s decreasing sex drive is a key conflict, but outside of that, I felt like their personalities were underdeveloped.
The horror parts, though, those were great. The book really picks up towards the end when the tension rises and things start to spiral. The final moments were the strongest, and I loved how chaotic everything got. However, I found the sections where the reading took on a play format to be confusing. Maybe if I were more familiar with the King in Yellow lore, it would have made more sense to me, but as it was, it just added another layer of disorientation.
All in all, A Game in Yellow wasn’t what I hoped for. The pacing, dense writing, and lack of character depth made it hard to enjoy, even though the horror moments were definitely a highlight.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
📅 Pub Date: August 12, 2025
Sadly, this one didn’t work for me. I found myself dreading picking it up again because it just felt like a drag. The writing was overly complex, and I kept having to stop to look up words, which really broke the flow for me.
I also felt like the intimate/BDSM scenes between Carmen and Blanca were a bit repetitive. Their relationship struggles were central to the story, but I couldn’t connect with them. We get a little bit of background on their pasts, but not enough to really care about their dynamic. Carmen’s decreasing sex drive is a key conflict, but outside of that, I felt like their personalities were underdeveloped.
The horror parts, though, those were great. The book really picks up towards the end when the tension rises and things start to spiral. The final moments were the strongest, and I loved how chaotic everything got. However, I found the sections where the reading took on a play format to be confusing. Maybe if I were more familiar with the King in Yellow lore, it would have made more sense to me, but as it was, it just added another layer of disorientation.
All in all, A Game in Yellow wasn’t what I hoped for. The pacing, dense writing, and lack of character depth made it hard to enjoy, even though the horror moments were definitely a highlight.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
January 14, 2025
ARC for review. To be published August 12, 2025.
4 stars.
Carmen and Blanca are a couple into kink, but suddenly Carmen isn’t feeling it anymore. She is desperate to bring back her libido and she and Blanca try many, many things, but nothing is working. Then Blanca, who is a bartender, meets Smoke at her bar and takes Carmen to see her because she thinks she can help. Smoke promises that if Carmen reads a small portion of a secret play Smoke has called “The King in Yellow� she’ll get better. She does, and she does. Much better. But it doesn’t last. And now Carmen is chasing the high that only the play can give, but Smoke warms that too much of it will destroy the reader. Guess what? Carmen doesn’t listen.
This book is incredibly dark and when reading it I found parts quite scary, which doesn’t often happen with me. It’s a bit like a fever dream in parts. Piper does an excellent job here and I’ll be looking for more from her in the future.
4 stars.
Carmen and Blanca are a couple into kink, but suddenly Carmen isn’t feeling it anymore. She is desperate to bring back her libido and she and Blanca try many, many things, but nothing is working. Then Blanca, who is a bartender, meets Smoke at her bar and takes Carmen to see her because she thinks she can help. Smoke promises that if Carmen reads a small portion of a secret play Smoke has called “The King in Yellow� she’ll get better. She does, and she does. Much better. But it doesn’t last. And now Carmen is chasing the high that only the play can give, but Smoke warms that too much of it will destroy the reader. Guess what? Carmen doesn’t listen.
This book is incredibly dark and when reading it I found parts quite scary, which doesn’t often happen with me. It’s a bit like a fever dream in parts. Piper does an excellent job here and I’ll be looking for more from her in the future.
March 3, 2025
A book? Or a kinky work of art? Both, erotic and psychotic (might use that in my dating profile), in true Piper style this story is executed beautifully, exploring the fragilities and intimacies of a lesbian couple, the mesh of, desire, codependency, BDSM and existentialism was at times jarring but I think that's the point? Reads like a fever dream or an unsettling wet dream
December 24, 2024
Hailey Piper’s A Game in Yellow is a haunting and hypnotic blend of horror, erotica, and psychological thriller. Following a kink-fixated couple, Carmen and Blanca, the novel explores Carmen’s descent into madness after discovering The King in Yellow, a play that promises both thrill and terror. As Carmen becomes obsessed with the play, the boundaries between reality and nightmare blur, leading her down a dangerous path of desire and obsession.
Piper’s prose is smooth and engaging, drawing readers into Carmen’s spiraling psyche. The story deftly explores the complexities of codependent relationships, fear of abandonment, and the terror of losing yourself. It’s a chilling and intimate exploration of desire, control, and identity, with a perfect balance of erotic tension and psychological horror.
A truly captivating and unsettling read, A Game in Yellow will linger with you long after the last page.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for this early eARC.
Piper’s prose is smooth and engaging, drawing readers into Carmen’s spiraling psyche. The story deftly explores the complexities of codependent relationships, fear of abandonment, and the terror of losing yourself. It’s a chilling and intimate exploration of desire, control, and identity, with a perfect balance of erotic tension and psychological horror.
A truly captivating and unsettling read, A Game in Yellow will linger with you long after the last page.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for this early eARC.
March 21, 2025
"A Game in Yellow" is a book of messy queers, Carmen and Blanca, who are trying to revive their kink-fixated lifestyle by reading small passages from "The King in Yellow," a mysterious play with dangerous powers.
Once Carmen experiences a brief glimpse of the ecstasy that the lines can bring, she becomes obsessed with the play, stealing pages from their third kink player, Smoke. Soon enough, Carmen's world begins to slip into that of the play, in day dreams and nightmares and seemingly everyday, ordinary encounters. Both Carmen and Blanca carry childhood trauma caused by poor parenting, and The King in Yellow seemingly reads their past to twist their present.
The story is told from Carmen's perspective, and her unreliability as a narrator serves to make the hallucinatory encounters with the play more surreal. As the book's narrative inevitably unfolds, the true powers of the play are slowly and gruesomely revealed, leading to an epic ending. An epic ending in my book, at least.
On another note, my enjoyment of this book was enhanced by my prior knowledge of Robert W. Chambers' , which I've read at least twice. So as Carmen begins to succumb to the powers of the play, the references were much easier to grasp. My enjoyment of this book was made available by the fine folks at Netgalley and the publishers at Saga, and of course, the delightfully twisted mind of author Hailey Piper. Kudos on a fine story!
Once Carmen experiences a brief glimpse of the ecstasy that the lines can bring, she becomes obsessed with the play, stealing pages from their third kink player, Smoke. Soon enough, Carmen's world begins to slip into that of the play, in day dreams and nightmares and seemingly everyday, ordinary encounters. Both Carmen and Blanca carry childhood trauma caused by poor parenting, and The King in Yellow seemingly reads their past to twist their present.
The story is told from Carmen's perspective, and her unreliability as a narrator serves to make the hallucinatory encounters with the play more surreal. As the book's narrative inevitably unfolds, the true powers of the play are slowly and gruesomely revealed, leading to an epic ending. An epic ending in my book, at least.
On another note, my enjoyment of this book was enhanced by my prior knowledge of Robert W. Chambers' , which I've read at least twice. So as Carmen begins to succumb to the powers of the play, the references were much easier to grasp. My enjoyment of this book was made available by the fine folks at Netgalley and the publishers at Saga, and of course, the delightfully twisted mind of author Hailey Piper. Kudos on a fine story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When I read the description on NetGalley I thought this would be interesting, but sadly I just wasn’t into it. I’m not sure if it was just me, but the play parts were so boring, and hard to get through, they could have added more to the story and it just didn’t (in my opinion.)
The couple themselves (Blanca and Carmen) just seem like curious roommates� not like an actual couple. I get that they’re struggling sexually and that’s why they’re looking for more dangerous options, but they just lacked that relationship connection. Then we get introduced to Smoke who flips everything upside down. She introduces Carmen to this play, it alters your mind when you read it. It’s essentially like a drug, you want to consume more, but if you consume too much then you are basically driven into madness.
Overall, it fell flat. Too many characters (between real life and the play,) and not much was happening that made me want to read more.
When I read the description on NetGalley I thought this would be interesting, but sadly I just wasn’t into it. I’m not sure if it was just me, but the play parts were so boring, and hard to get through, they could have added more to the story and it just didn’t (in my opinion.)
The couple themselves (Blanca and Carmen) just seem like curious roommates� not like an actual couple. I get that they’re struggling sexually and that’s why they’re looking for more dangerous options, but they just lacked that relationship connection. Then we get introduced to Smoke who flips everything upside down. She introduces Carmen to this play, it alters your mind when you read it. It’s essentially like a drug, you want to consume more, but if you consume too much then you are basically driven into madness.
Overall, it fell flat. Too many characters (between real life and the play,) and not much was happening that made me want to read more.
January 20, 2025
I wouldn't necessarily say it's heavy on the horror, more leaning towards drama that might leave you twisted around. Spent half of the book either confused, dying for more about the game/play, or crying and angry over the characters. I'd say the last two-three chapters are when it gets really weird but weird in a really good way.
I enjoyed Carmen but she also drove me absolutely crazy. I would say none of the other characters are worth rooting for but it's hard to say because Carmen is definitely an unreliable narrator.
Overall I really enjoyed it for what it was. A short and quick read that grabs your attention.
I enjoyed Carmen but she also drove me absolutely crazy. I would say none of the other characters are worth rooting for but it's hard to say because Carmen is definitely an unreliable narrator.
Overall I really enjoyed it for what it was. A short and quick read that grabs your attention.
February 6, 2025
I don't know where to start. A complicated look at women, love and sense of self. This is like the adult version of self harm, cutting and desperation to feel connection.
Trauma from family carried into adulthood, seeping into the joy and support of what could be a healthy relationship. Yet both Blanca and Carmen struggle with their self worth and queer identities- Blanca always in control, Carmen known as pet.
Add in a creepy play consuming lives and you have an amazing plot.
Trauma from family carried into adulthood, seeping into the joy and support of what could be a healthy relationship. Yet both Blanca and Carmen struggle with their self worth and queer identities- Blanca always in control, Carmen known as pet.
Add in a creepy play consuming lives and you have an amazing plot.
March 18, 2025
A WILD melding of on an old story with a progressive, contemporary one. Very queer!! Very kinky!! Oh my god... some of these fetish scenes made me flush.
This story is about Carmen and Blanca’s complex dom/sub relationship and the challenges of keeping the flame alive. Blanca then leads them to a possible solution for their relationship struggles (avoiding hard discussions, therapy, or processing personal trauma) and it involves a woman named Smoke and her play titled The King In Yellow.
This book sent me down a rabbit hole of reading the source material, The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers and The Inhabitant of Carcosa by Ambrose Bierce. I do think The Game in Yellow makes more sense and feels like a richer story if the reader is familiar with King in Yellow lore. Piper sometimes uses scenes verbatim from these stories, which have a very different feel (since they were written in the late 1800’s) from the kinky romance storyline. Other times, she’ll reference, adapt, or expand on source material in very creative ways. Impressively, Piper uses her magic story telling powers to weave parallels between Carmen’s romantic relationship and her relationship with The King in Yellow.
Overall, really enjoyed this story and I LOVED the characters! They were flawed and complex to the point that they felt real, but that their personal lives extended beyond the pages of this book, and that I'll never get a know those parts. It was also refreshing to see a non-traditional relationship structure portrayed in a loving, consensual way. It was clear that the relationship structure was not "the problem" in this story, but rather how individuals avoidied processing personal traumas and discussing hard topics.
Thank you Netgalley and Saga Press for this ARC of the Game in Yellow by Hailey Piper.
This story is about Carmen and Blanca’s complex dom/sub relationship and the challenges of keeping the flame alive. Blanca then leads them to a possible solution for their relationship struggles (avoiding hard discussions, therapy, or processing personal trauma) and it involves a woman named Smoke and her play titled The King In Yellow.
This book sent me down a rabbit hole of reading the source material, The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers and The Inhabitant of Carcosa by Ambrose Bierce. I do think The Game in Yellow makes more sense and feels like a richer story if the reader is familiar with King in Yellow lore. Piper sometimes uses scenes verbatim from these stories, which have a very different feel (since they were written in the late 1800’s) from the kinky romance storyline. Other times, she’ll reference, adapt, or expand on source material in very creative ways. Impressively, Piper uses her magic story telling powers to weave parallels between Carmen’s romantic relationship and her relationship with The King in Yellow.
Overall, really enjoyed this story and I LOVED the characters! They were flawed and complex to the point that they felt real, but that their personal lives extended beyond the pages of this book, and that I'll never get a know those parts. It was also refreshing to see a non-traditional relationship structure portrayed in a loving, consensual way. It was clear that the relationship structure was not "the problem" in this story, but rather how individuals avoidied processing personal traumas and discussing hard topics.
Thank you Netgalley and Saga Press for this ARC of the Game in Yellow by Hailey Piper.
March 17, 2025
Carmen and Blanca are a loving, trusting couple, whose past joy and current struggles are centered upon their Dom/Sub roles in their sexual relationship. But lately, Carmen is feeling apathetic and uninspired and worries she will lose the love of her life because of her loss of sexual interest.
This novel is an ingenious combination of lush and lustful BDSM queer sex scenes and a King in Yellow cosmic horror thru line. It is twisty, intelligent and oh so cleverly written, but base and hot and damp with sexuality.
But there were times, especially while reading the play that I was utterly lost. I seriously considered putting this book down to do some research on the King in Yellow, which I have never read. I am also not very versed in the cosmic horror trope, so I felt a little like an outsider who is not quite able to get the inside jokes and subtle nods to the works that inspired this novel. But Piper’s writing style has such a hook, so mesmerizing that I just kept reading.
Thank you Net Galley and Saga Press for this advanced reader copy. My opinions are my own.
This novel is an ingenious combination of lush and lustful BDSM queer sex scenes and a King in Yellow cosmic horror thru line. It is twisty, intelligent and oh so cleverly written, but base and hot and damp with sexuality.
But there were times, especially while reading the play that I was utterly lost. I seriously considered putting this book down to do some research on the King in Yellow, which I have never read. I am also not very versed in the cosmic horror trope, so I felt a little like an outsider who is not quite able to get the inside jokes and subtle nods to the works that inspired this novel. But Piper’s writing style has such a hook, so mesmerizing that I just kept reading.
Thank you Net Galley and Saga Press for this advanced reader copy. My opinions are my own.
April 14, 2025
Reading for review in the June 2025 Issue of Library Journal
Three Words That Describe This Book: discomfort, an original retelling of a classic work, cursed book
Confidently combines the very best of Cosmic Horror and Erotica into one cohesive story of terror and ecstasy and madness but also creates something wholly new and original.
This is a book that shows a modern audience why Chambers� work still matters, why is has mesmerized and terrified people for over 130 years.
The BDSM kink enhances the story. First, it adds to the discomfort as readers watch the narrator be tied up for sexual pleasure but also Carmen as the subordinate in the relationship matters to the story. Her place as a sub at the start, who she was before meeting Blanca, and who she becomes at the story’s end� without the BDSM it would not work as well. But I know that part could be a turn off (pun intended) for some traditional horror readers. To those I say, trust the author. Interestingly it is what I told people about Queen of Teeth by Piper as well. Yes that story start with a vagina monster, but it is not a gimmick it is important and vital to the story and is what made it an award winning debut.
Somewhere between terror and madness lies ecstasy–Smoke the keeper of the book pg 29
Or is it somewhere between terror and ecstasy lies madness.
The language prose draws you toward madness. It is both dense and captivating. I wrote down many phrases.
Disorienting and lustful and terror and ecstasy �.all leading to madness.
A downward spiral that the readers sees it coming a mile away� not a game of chicken here� and yet they cannot stop reading nor do they want to. There is no way for this to end other than with disaster and yet, whether the reader wants to admit it or not� that is what they desire. And even though we see it going badly� it ends so much more existentially terrifying for all� characters and readers alike.
Everything is intentional from the intentional safety driven BDSM to the use of the play pages as they merge
Prose you want to stop and reread. Lines worth writing down.
The play as it read begins as Chambers� work but morphs over time to “read� Carmen and add her story to its pages.
It seems to build slowly yet always on the edge of your seat wanting to find out what will happen, the story unfurls until the madness bursts open and begins to permeate more than Carmen’s brain.
There is a craft here that is admirable but the book is so compelling- an effortless read of spiraling into madness, you don’t realize how meticulously it was crafted until you step away which is awesome and also discomfiting.
Perfect Horror ending as terror and unease are unleashed into the real world off the page.
Familiarity with “The King in Yellow� is not necessary as this book stands firmly and confidently on its own. Confidently updating it.
The cosmic horror beginnings established in The King in Yellow by Robert Chambers and mythic city of Carcosa.
Cassidy’s When the Wolf Comes Home -- there is a shared feeling here as well
Three Words That Describe This Book: discomfort, an original retelling of a classic work, cursed book
Confidently combines the very best of Cosmic Horror and Erotica into one cohesive story of terror and ecstasy and madness but also creates something wholly new and original.
This is a book that shows a modern audience why Chambers� work still matters, why is has mesmerized and terrified people for over 130 years.
The BDSM kink enhances the story. First, it adds to the discomfort as readers watch the narrator be tied up for sexual pleasure but also Carmen as the subordinate in the relationship matters to the story. Her place as a sub at the start, who she was before meeting Blanca, and who she becomes at the story’s end� without the BDSM it would not work as well. But I know that part could be a turn off (pun intended) for some traditional horror readers. To those I say, trust the author. Interestingly it is what I told people about Queen of Teeth by Piper as well. Yes that story start with a vagina monster, but it is not a gimmick it is important and vital to the story and is what made it an award winning debut.
Somewhere between terror and madness lies ecstasy–Smoke the keeper of the book pg 29
Or is it somewhere between terror and ecstasy lies madness.
The language prose draws you toward madness. It is both dense and captivating. I wrote down many phrases.
Disorienting and lustful and terror and ecstasy �.all leading to madness.
A downward spiral that the readers sees it coming a mile away� not a game of chicken here� and yet they cannot stop reading nor do they want to. There is no way for this to end other than with disaster and yet, whether the reader wants to admit it or not� that is what they desire. And even though we see it going badly� it ends so much more existentially terrifying for all� characters and readers alike.
Everything is intentional from the intentional safety driven BDSM to the use of the play pages as they merge
Prose you want to stop and reread. Lines worth writing down.
The play as it read begins as Chambers� work but morphs over time to “read� Carmen and add her story to its pages.
It seems to build slowly yet always on the edge of your seat wanting to find out what will happen, the story unfurls until the madness bursts open and begins to permeate more than Carmen’s brain.
There is a craft here that is admirable but the book is so compelling- an effortless read of spiraling into madness, you don’t realize how meticulously it was crafted until you step away which is awesome and also discomfiting.
Perfect Horror ending as terror and unease are unleashed into the real world off the page.
Familiarity with “The King in Yellow� is not necessary as this book stands firmly and confidently on its own. Confidently updating it.
The cosmic horror beginnings established in The King in Yellow by Robert Chambers and mythic city of Carcosa.
Cassidy’s When the Wolf Comes Home -- there is a shared feeling here as well
April 10, 2025
The book couldn’t really decide what it wanted to be. I picked it up for the horror elements, which eventually showed up towards the end (when much of the book picked up the pace). I wanted more and much more early on.
The mixing of genres (narrative with the play) was as a good move and worked much better towards the end when the character asks the question: is the play already written or are we writing the play.
The characters weren’t developed enough to care about (the reader doesn’t get a good visual of Carmen until Rico’s, which is late in the story), and the writing seemed disjointed at times.
Loved the BDSM, although it wasn’t varied enough, and lived the horror elements, although could have used more.
Thank you Net Galley and Sage Press for the ARC!
The mixing of genres (narrative with the play) was as a good move and worked much better towards the end when the character asks the question: is the play already written or are we writing the play.
The characters weren’t developed enough to care about (the reader doesn’t get a good visual of Carmen until Rico’s, which is late in the story), and the writing seemed disjointed at times.
Loved the BDSM, although it wasn’t varied enough, and lived the horror elements, although could have used more.
Thank you Net Galley and Sage Press for the ARC!
December 28, 2024
A Game in Yellow tells the story of Blanca and Carmen, a couple struggling with intimacy that seeks increasingly exploratory and dangerous methods to remedy their relationship. While neither character was particularly likable, their intimacy struggles felt relatable. Their insecurities, jealousies, and need for control all felt relatable. However, the story becomes dense as Piper describes this alternative universe, aka the play. Piper goes so far into detail with the play that it starts to feel like a separate story. The content of the play is confusing, and attempting to relate it to the plot adds to that confusion. I think Piper could have accomplished the premise of this story without creating a maze with the play. A Game in Yellow felt comparable to The Book of the Most Precious Substance by Sara Gran, although it pales in comparison. I’ve been a fan of Hailey Piper for a long time, and while A Game in Yellow felt unsuccessful, I’ll continue coming back for her work. Thank you Hailey Piper, Saga Press, and Netgalley for advance access to this story.
April 13, 2025
Possibly some of the finest interpretations of the Hastur/Carcosa Mythos that I’ve ever read.
December 27, 2024
eARC from publisher
This is the kind of book that makes you want to go to the beginning and start again, to read with your eyes still fresh, to experience once more.
Hailey Piper puts The King in Yellow–a play that features in Robert W. Chambers' work of the same name, a play that drives the reader mad–into the hands of Carmen, a queer, kinky woman who is sexually and emotionally frustrated by her inability to retain a healthy headspace with her partner Blanca.
Who would think to pair The King in Yellow with a story about the nature of submission, the ennui of office work, and the struggles of being human in a long-term relationship other than Hailey Piper? She deftly juggles all this in more in what might be her best work to date.
This is the kind of book that makes you want to go to the beginning and start again, to read with your eyes still fresh, to experience once more.
Hailey Piper puts The King in Yellow–a play that features in Robert W. Chambers' work of the same name, a play that drives the reader mad–into the hands of Carmen, a queer, kinky woman who is sexually and emotionally frustrated by her inability to retain a healthy headspace with her partner Blanca.
Who would think to pair The King in Yellow with a story about the nature of submission, the ennui of office work, and the struggles of being human in a long-term relationship other than Hailey Piper? She deftly juggles all this in more in what might be her best work to date.
March 28, 2025
Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!
I think that this is going to be a difficult book to review. I haven't read The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers, so it's difficult for me to tell where his influence ends and Hailey Piper's creativity begins.
A Game in Yellow is about a couple, Carmen and Blanca, who just can't seem to get in sync sexually. Carmen has been asking for more and more intense, dangerous scenarios, but nothing is scratching that itch. Blanca finally suggests they go see a woman named Smoke who has a mysterious play that when read makes you feel such a surge of adrenaline it might be able to kick Carmen's drive into gear.
The King in Yellow is a pretty famous staple of the cosmic horror genre, and it's a shame I haven't read it. I've experienced other media that referenced the novel, but I'm not as familiar with the lore and story as I would've liked to be for this reading experience because there is some really interesting lore here. I just don't know if I can give Piper the credit for it. In a way, A Game in Yellow parallels The King in Yellow because neither of the stories are really about the play. Instead, they're about how the play affects the minds of those who read it.
Smoke controls how much Carmen can read the play, but it's almost like an addictive drug. Carmen constantly craves more even though she's been told and shown that it's incredibly dangerous to get too sucked in. A Game is Yellow is also a cosmic horror novel, so it's not interested in explaining anything to the reader. Usually, I wouldn't find this too frustrating, but I think because there's so much "world-building" within the world of the play it becomes more irritating as a reader. I'm trying to keep track of and understand so many "unusual" names and places that I can't focus entirely on Carmen's descent. There's multiple cities- Carcossa, Yttil, Hastur - and the reader is never really given context for any of them. The writing style within the "play" sections is also quite dense and metaphorical. It's a well-done stylistic choice, separating the simple world that Carmen knows from the complex, obfuscated world of the masquerade. It doesn't help the reader gain any understanding, however.
The way that the play is different from that of The King in Yellow is also notable. The story of the play is about a masquerade where a stranger in a golden mask is discussed amongst the crowds. In the end, he's revealed to be the King in Yellow. This isn't where A Game in Yellow chooses to take its stranger, and I did find that compelling. The climax of this book is insanely confusing, but it does lead to an interesting reveal and the best horror of the whole book. The last few pages are fascinating and horrifying. It's just really quite a shame that there wasn't more before that point. The horror is more psychological, but the progression from tense, insanity based horror to real, visceral horror could have been smoother.
The sexual aspect of this book is...something. I don't think the sex is poorly written, and I think it serves its function well throughout the story. This is a book largely about sex and sexuality, but I think if there was a point being made I missed it. Carmen and Blanca are in a BDSM relationship where Carmen is the Sub and Blanca is the Dom. There's a lot said about how Carmen is actually the one in control of their relationship, and I'm just not quite sure what the point of this was. I think the author might have been trying to make a point about how Carmen is manipulative? Or maybe how she had issues with control? Perhaps that was the root of her sexual disfunction. She also has an "incident" in her past that she's blocked out of her mind with a girl named Aja, but I didn't understand the importance of this event. It's really built up, and what I gleaned from the even was that Carmen was a coward. Is that what I was supposed to take from her character?
Blanca is also a confusing character. The issue with Blanca is that she is "too in control," and her backstory makes the reader understand why. I'm just not sure what that means for their relationship. I think the primary issue is that these character based moments feel unresolved. They're coming to a head at the same time that the more horror-based elements are coming to a head, so as a reader I was much more focused on the horror than the character. Is Blanca's relationship with Smoke a result of Blanca's character flaws or Carmen's? All of the characters, motivations, and relationships are so incredibly confused that it made reading about them unengaging. I didn't really care about Blanca and Carmen's relationship, and that's really unfortunate because I know that part was Piper's doing.
There's also generally no resolution to Carmen's coworkers. Carmen, under the influence of the play, involves a large group of people in reading the play. It was explained to us that the play can cause a wide variety of reactions in people. It can cause them to harm others or themselves, or it can cause larger societal swings. It can form cults or dictators, and with so many different people exposed to the effects of the play I was hoping to see some stirrings of something greater. I was a bit disappointed.
There's something good here. SOMETHING. The twin suns, black eyes portal is super compelling. The Yellow Sign is so interesting. The carnage the play can cause, not just physical carnage but societal carnage, is fascinating. The two acts of the play having different powers, and the fact that the play can self-replicate and tune into its reader is amazing. The Golden city, the stranger, the masquerade! But... is this Piper? Or is this Chambers? I don't know if I can give her credit for all the things I enjoyed.
I would recommend A Game in Yellow, but only because I think it's an interesting talking point, not necessarily because I think it's a good book. The writing is fine, though it's clear that Piper is a talented writer. The stark stylistic differences between the novel style and play style are a testament to that. The atmosphere is compelling at times, and minimal at others. If it sounds interesting, give it a shot, but keep your expectations in line.
A Game in Yellow releases on August 12th, 2025
I think that this is going to be a difficult book to review. I haven't read The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers, so it's difficult for me to tell where his influence ends and Hailey Piper's creativity begins.
A Game in Yellow is about a couple, Carmen and Blanca, who just can't seem to get in sync sexually. Carmen has been asking for more and more intense, dangerous scenarios, but nothing is scratching that itch. Blanca finally suggests they go see a woman named Smoke who has a mysterious play that when read makes you feel such a surge of adrenaline it might be able to kick Carmen's drive into gear.
The King in Yellow is a pretty famous staple of the cosmic horror genre, and it's a shame I haven't read it. I've experienced other media that referenced the novel, but I'm not as familiar with the lore and story as I would've liked to be for this reading experience because there is some really interesting lore here. I just don't know if I can give Piper the credit for it. In a way, A Game in Yellow parallels The King in Yellow because neither of the stories are really about the play. Instead, they're about how the play affects the minds of those who read it.
Smoke controls how much Carmen can read the play, but it's almost like an addictive drug. Carmen constantly craves more even though she's been told and shown that it's incredibly dangerous to get too sucked in. A Game is Yellow is also a cosmic horror novel, so it's not interested in explaining anything to the reader. Usually, I wouldn't find this too frustrating, but I think because there's so much "world-building" within the world of the play it becomes more irritating as a reader. I'm trying to keep track of and understand so many "unusual" names and places that I can't focus entirely on Carmen's descent. There's multiple cities- Carcossa, Yttil, Hastur - and the reader is never really given context for any of them. The writing style within the "play" sections is also quite dense and metaphorical. It's a well-done stylistic choice, separating the simple world that Carmen knows from the complex, obfuscated world of the masquerade. It doesn't help the reader gain any understanding, however.
The way that the play is different from that of The King in Yellow is also notable. The story of the play is about a masquerade where a stranger in a golden mask is discussed amongst the crowds. In the end, he's revealed to be the King in Yellow. This isn't where A Game in Yellow chooses to take its stranger, and I did find that compelling. The climax of this book is insanely confusing, but it does lead to an interesting reveal and the best horror of the whole book. The last few pages are fascinating and horrifying. It's just really quite a shame that there wasn't more before that point. The horror is more psychological, but the progression from tense, insanity based horror to real, visceral horror could have been smoother.
The sexual aspect of this book is...something. I don't think the sex is poorly written, and I think it serves its function well throughout the story. This is a book largely about sex and sexuality, but I think if there was a point being made I missed it. Carmen and Blanca are in a BDSM relationship where Carmen is the Sub and Blanca is the Dom. There's a lot said about how Carmen is actually the one in control of their relationship, and I'm just not quite sure what the point of this was. I think the author might have been trying to make a point about how Carmen is manipulative? Or maybe how she had issues with control? Perhaps that was the root of her sexual disfunction. She also has an "incident" in her past that she's blocked out of her mind with a girl named Aja, but I didn't understand the importance of this event. It's really built up, and what I gleaned from the even was that Carmen was a coward. Is that what I was supposed to take from her character?
Blanca is also a confusing character. The issue with Blanca is that she is "too in control," and her backstory makes the reader understand why. I'm just not sure what that means for their relationship. I think the primary issue is that these character based moments feel unresolved. They're coming to a head at the same time that the more horror-based elements are coming to a head, so as a reader I was much more focused on the horror than the character. Is Blanca's relationship with Smoke a result of Blanca's character flaws or Carmen's? All of the characters, motivations, and relationships are so incredibly confused that it made reading about them unengaging. I didn't really care about Blanca and Carmen's relationship, and that's really unfortunate because I know that part was Piper's doing.
There's also generally no resolution to Carmen's coworkers. Carmen, under the influence of the play, involves a large group of people in reading the play. It was explained to us that the play can cause a wide variety of reactions in people. It can cause them to harm others or themselves, or it can cause larger societal swings. It can form cults or dictators, and with so many different people exposed to the effects of the play I was hoping to see some stirrings of something greater. I was a bit disappointed.
There's something good here. SOMETHING. The twin suns, black eyes portal is super compelling. The Yellow Sign is so interesting. The carnage the play can cause, not just physical carnage but societal carnage, is fascinating. The two acts of the play having different powers, and the fact that the play can self-replicate and tune into its reader is amazing. The Golden city, the stranger, the masquerade! But... is this Piper? Or is this Chambers? I don't know if I can give her credit for all the things I enjoyed.
I would recommend A Game in Yellow, but only because I think it's an interesting talking point, not necessarily because I think it's a good book. The writing is fine, though it's clear that Piper is a talented writer. The stark stylistic differences between the novel style and play style are a testament to that. The atmosphere is compelling at times, and minimal at others. If it sounds interesting, give it a shot, but keep your expectations in line.
A Game in Yellow releases on August 12th, 2025
January 14, 2025
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 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.
February 27, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and S&S/Saga for the eARC of Hailey Piper’s A Game in Yellow, scheduled to be released August 2025!
In A Game in Yellow, we follow Carmen Mancini, a midthirties New Yorker who is in a relationship with Blanca, by all accounts her dream woman minus one problem: Carmen and Blanca have hit a snag sexually, with Carmen struggling to connect to their sex life. Enter Smoke, an enigmatic friend of Blanca’s who introduces the couple to The King in Yellow, both a written play and a drug. Read just a little bit and experience intense euphoria. Read too much and be driven to madness.
Of course, we wouldn’t be here if everything went just fine. Carmen finds herself pulled to the play, constantly bringing herself to the edge of insanity at the cost of her relationship, her job, her life’s firm footing. As Carmen teeters closer to the edge, and Blanca and Smoke teeter closer to each other, can Carmen free herself from The King in Yellow before it is too late?
This was intense in the best way, a psychological thriller meets erotic noir. I felt like I was right alongside Carmen as she drifted further from reality and nearer to the complete psychological overtaking by The King in Yellow. At the same time, I felt like I was standing with Blanca, watching the person I love most lose themselves entirely.
I do wish there had been a touch more emphasis on the madness. We see how the play affects Carmen and a few others, but I wish we had seen just a little more.
Overall this was a tantalizing read that I highly recommend if a psychosexual fever dream sounds right up your alley. A real treat.
In A Game in Yellow, we follow Carmen Mancini, a midthirties New Yorker who is in a relationship with Blanca, by all accounts her dream woman minus one problem: Carmen and Blanca have hit a snag sexually, with Carmen struggling to connect to their sex life. Enter Smoke, an enigmatic friend of Blanca’s who introduces the couple to The King in Yellow, both a written play and a drug. Read just a little bit and experience intense euphoria. Read too much and be driven to madness.
Of course, we wouldn’t be here if everything went just fine. Carmen finds herself pulled to the play, constantly bringing herself to the edge of insanity at the cost of her relationship, her job, her life’s firm footing. As Carmen teeters closer to the edge, and Blanca and Smoke teeter closer to each other, can Carmen free herself from The King in Yellow before it is too late?
This was intense in the best way, a psychological thriller meets erotic noir. I felt like I was right alongside Carmen as she drifted further from reality and nearer to the complete psychological overtaking by The King in Yellow. At the same time, I felt like I was standing with Blanca, watching the person I love most lose themselves entirely.
I do wish there had been a touch more emphasis on the madness. We see how the play affects Carmen and a few others, but I wish we had seen just a little more.
Overall this was a tantalizing read that I highly recommend if a psychosexual fever dream sounds right up your alley. A real treat.
January 23, 2025
First, a HUGE thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wow. Just wow. I really stepped out of my comfort zone for this one, and boy, did it pay off! I’m not usually one for anything in the horror genre, but I do sometimes enjoy psychological thrillers; so I decided to give A Game in Yellow a shot. I am so glad that I did.
When I started reading this book, I stepped into the lives and issues of Carmen, Blanca, and Smoke. They were all such intriguing characters, and the story itself was so interesting that I very quickly became invested! I devoured this book and its characters and only put it down to sleep and go to work. If I had been smarter and started reading on my off days, it would have been read in one sitting.
Now, it would be five stars but there were a few minor things that I found made it a four to me. The biggest one being the climax. It was exciting and really picked up the pace for me, but it sped up so much from the regular pacing, that it was a little hard to follow at times. That didn’t really impact the ending (which was so GOOD) for me, but it felt a tad rushed compared to the rest of the book. I also wish that I could’ve gotten more of the characters!
Overall, Hailey Piper’s A Game in Yellow is a fantastic read that takes you on a journey of insanity and the effect that it has on the people and the world around you.
Wow. Just wow. I really stepped out of my comfort zone for this one, and boy, did it pay off! I’m not usually one for anything in the horror genre, but I do sometimes enjoy psychological thrillers; so I decided to give A Game in Yellow a shot. I am so glad that I did.
When I started reading this book, I stepped into the lives and issues of Carmen, Blanca, and Smoke. They were all such intriguing characters, and the story itself was so interesting that I very quickly became invested! I devoured this book and its characters and only put it down to sleep and go to work. If I had been smarter and started reading on my off days, it would have been read in one sitting.
Now, it would be five stars but there were a few minor things that I found made it a four to me. The biggest one being the climax. It was exciting and really picked up the pace for me, but it sped up so much from the regular pacing, that it was a little hard to follow at times. That didn’t really impact the ending (which was so GOOD) for me, but it felt a tad rushed compared to the rest of the book. I also wish that I could’ve gotten more of the characters!
Overall, Hailey Piper’s A Game in Yellow is a fantastic read that takes you on a journey of insanity and the effect that it has on the people and the world around you.
February 5, 2025
“Somewhere in the dark of her mind, she wondered if love was a flavor of oblivion.�
“A Game in Yellow� is a captivating read that follows a couple, Carmen and Blanca, who are in a rut � and their normal BDSM games aren’t helping them get out of it. Enter Smoke, a woman in possession of a mysterious play known as The King in Yellow. To read too much of the play is to fall into madness, but to read just enough is to experience a euphoric high that can’t be found anywhere else. Carmen reads some of The King and Yellow in the hope that the experience will bring back her spark with Blanca. But Carmen quickly becomes obsessed with the play, leading her down a rabbit hole of desire that blurs the lines between fiction and reality.
For the most part, I enjoyed my reading experience of this book. It was a fascinating blend of erotica, drama, and horror, which I’ve never seen combined in a novel before. I loved the premise and I loved watching Carmen’s descent into madness.
However, I wish the story had been longer and explored more of the dynamics between Carmen, Blanca, and Smoke. We got a hint of conflict between the three but the friction wasn’t played up as much as it could’ve been in my opinion. I also think it would’ve been more satisfying as a reader to learn more about each woman’s past throughout the story, because it would’ve made the ending more impactful for me.
Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“A Game in Yellow� is a captivating read that follows a couple, Carmen and Blanca, who are in a rut � and their normal BDSM games aren’t helping them get out of it. Enter Smoke, a woman in possession of a mysterious play known as The King in Yellow. To read too much of the play is to fall into madness, but to read just enough is to experience a euphoric high that can’t be found anywhere else. Carmen reads some of The King and Yellow in the hope that the experience will bring back her spark with Blanca. But Carmen quickly becomes obsessed with the play, leading her down a rabbit hole of desire that blurs the lines between fiction and reality.
For the most part, I enjoyed my reading experience of this book. It was a fascinating blend of erotica, drama, and horror, which I’ve never seen combined in a novel before. I loved the premise and I loved watching Carmen’s descent into madness.
However, I wish the story had been longer and explored more of the dynamics between Carmen, Blanca, and Smoke. We got a hint of conflict between the three but the friction wasn’t played up as much as it could’ve been in my opinion. I also think it would’ve been more satisfying as a reader to learn more about each woman’s past throughout the story, because it would’ve made the ending more impactful for me.
Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2025
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.
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.
April 30, 2025
2.5 stars maybe? Not sure.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Hailey Piper is so hit or miss for me and unfortunately this was a miss. Reading through this I was just happy that I never have to worry about things like this.
This is one of those books where I didn’t connect to anyone. I didn’t like the ways that Blanca and Smoke were treating Carmen. You could say it was the kink in the beginning maybe but after a while and Blanca was upset with Carmen it just seemed mean. And Carmen is just annoying. Also Smoke knew what the book would do and just let random people read it and die? The “consent� barely felt like consent so her little speech felt wrong to me. The whole threesome was just toxic. And not fun toxic infuriating toxic.
The play aspect was so dry. I just didn’t see anything as frightening and it didn’t feel like there was any stakes. I didn’t feel the urgency. The sexual aspects also didn’t feel like there was anything in it either. While this wasn’t my favorite book by Hailey Piper, they are an auto read author for me at this point and I’ll read more for sure.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Hailey Piper is so hit or miss for me and unfortunately this was a miss. Reading through this I was just happy that I never have to worry about things like this.
This is one of those books where I didn’t connect to anyone. I didn’t like the ways that Blanca and Smoke were treating Carmen. You could say it was the kink in the beginning maybe but after a while and Blanca was upset with Carmen it just seemed mean. And Carmen is just annoying. Also Smoke knew what the book would do and just let random people read it and die? The “consent� barely felt like consent so her little speech felt wrong to me. The whole threesome was just toxic. And not fun toxic infuriating toxic.
The play aspect was so dry. I just didn’t see anything as frightening and it didn’t feel like there was any stakes. I didn’t feel the urgency. The sexual aspects also didn’t feel like there was anything in it either. While this wasn’t my favorite book by Hailey Piper, they are an auto read author for me at this point and I’ll read more for sure.
February 24, 2025
thanks to netgalley and saga press for a free arc of this title! cosmic, erotic, and a little psychotic, this book feels like an archaic fever dream come to life via kink. i believe hailey piper is at her best when she leans into these hidden worlds beneath the surface of “humanity,� and this one handles that premise well. it’s a bit discombobulating, and the alternating between prose and play script can be a bit jarring but i personally didn’t mind it. i also appreciated that this book didn’t shy away from having more questions than it answered. a great psychosexual terror.
February 23, 2025
Him: What are you reading?
Me: Remember Carcosa and the Yellow King from Season 1 of True Detective? This book is based on the same source text, only when the characters read it they get super horny and have kinky sex.
Him: Nice.
Unfortunately I never grew to care about any of the characters and kept waiting for horror that didn’t arrive until the last chapter.
Me: Remember Carcosa and the Yellow King from Season 1 of True Detective? This book is based on the same source text, only when the characters read it they get super horny and have kinky sex.
Him: Nice.
Unfortunately I never grew to care about any of the characters and kept waiting for horror that didn’t arrive until the last chapter.
Read
January 25, 20252 stars. I was just so confused the whole time and was hoping things would pan out. I don't know if I missed something early on or maybe it just wasn't for me. Fuck, the premise is awesome and the writing is solid but I was just kinda lost 😭
December 21, 2024
The newest intimate cosmic masterpiece from Hailey Piper, A Game in Yellow is so many things. An exploration of a codependent relationship. But also that feeling when you finally find someone that truly and fiercely loves you. It’s also explores so many other aspects of relationship, mental health, fear, not just from the horror aspects but fear of who you are, being alone, not being loved, like there’s something fundamentally wrong with you that you can’t fix. It’s just brilliant. And yes, the horror and the strangeness are all there and they are absolutely wonderful and scary, too. Well done.
March 10, 2025
I loved this book. I mean what more can you ask for The King in Yellow a bit of S&M and a solid story. Great characters and character development. I was in it from page one and I mean sentence one. I am a Hailey Piper fan now. I ready a NetGalley copy of this. And will be getting any other book she has written.
March 27, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley and Saga Press for the eARC!!
"Ordinarily, you read the words. But these pages? They read you, too."
This is the story of Blanca and Carmen, a couple who are mostly ordinary in their daily lives and into kink play in their personal life but have recently fallen into a sex rut. In a relatable sense, Carmen can't get out of her own head enough to enjoy herself during sex or get off like she used to. Blanca tries all manner of kink but nothing works - until Blanca introduces Carmen to a woman named Smoke. Smoke asks Carmen to read a passage of the play, The King in Yellow, which to Blanca's delight, stirs Carmen into a sexual frenzy. However, as Smoke becomes a more stable figure in their relationship, Carmen begins to obsess over the play and descend into madness.
This book starts out full speed and does NOT stop the entire time. From the outset, it looks like a story of sapphic love full of sex and an exploration of kinks (safely!) and it is - in part - which is fun on its own, but I was quickly endeared to the story once it became clear that it was also so much more. It's also about trust, the longing for connection, LGBTQ+ love, trauma, found family, identity, order, and madness. It also took a deep dive into exploration of kinks like bondage and breath play and made me reconsider who is really in charge during submissive/dominate kink play - so that was a fun learning experience, tbh ("there was a contradiction between freedom and captivity, a control in yielding control. Carmen set the boundaries. Blanca facilitated them, and she was careful beyond measure, observant of limitations").
I've seen this book described as cosmic horror and I wholeheartedly agree. It's hard to tell what is real and what is delusion in Carmen's mind and you are left wading through what feels like a semi-fugue state. The story is punctuated with actual passages from the play in which Carmen is inserted as a character. The reader quickly discovers that Carmen is loosing her hold on reality with disastrous results - and not just within her relationship. I have mixed feelings books that follow a character in a dream/fugue state, which is why I oped for 4 stars, because this results in certain aspects of the book remaining open-ended by default . This book was written well so I was okay accepting the state Carmen was in 95% of the time because the book was not loaded with unanswered questions, just one or two (besides the main overall WTF how does this book exist - which is clearly not meant to be answered).
The ending absolutely blew me away. I was not expecting it and I was STUNNED but honestly, it was perfect. One of my top 10 favorite horror book endings.
I've also added the original The King in Yellow and Short Stories by Robert W. Chambers to my TBR - hopefully my reading will result in less chaos. :)
#gameinyellow #netgalley
"Ordinarily, you read the words. But these pages? They read you, too."
This is the story of Blanca and Carmen, a couple who are mostly ordinary in their daily lives and into kink play in their personal life but have recently fallen into a sex rut. In a relatable sense, Carmen can't get out of her own head enough to enjoy herself during sex or get off like she used to. Blanca tries all manner of kink but nothing works - until Blanca introduces Carmen to a woman named Smoke. Smoke asks Carmen to read a passage of the play, The King in Yellow, which to Blanca's delight, stirs Carmen into a sexual frenzy. However, as Smoke becomes a more stable figure in their relationship, Carmen begins to obsess over the play and descend into madness.
This book starts out full speed and does NOT stop the entire time. From the outset, it looks like a story of sapphic love full of sex and an exploration of kinks (safely!) and it is - in part - which is fun on its own, but I was quickly endeared to the story once it became clear that it was also so much more. It's also about trust, the longing for connection, LGBTQ+ love, trauma, found family, identity, order, and madness. It also took a deep dive into exploration of kinks like bondage and breath play and made me reconsider who is really in charge during submissive/dominate kink play - so that was a fun learning experience, tbh ("there was a contradiction between freedom and captivity, a control in yielding control. Carmen set the boundaries. Blanca facilitated them, and she was careful beyond measure, observant of limitations").
I've seen this book described as cosmic horror and I wholeheartedly agree. It's hard to tell what is real and what is delusion in Carmen's mind and you are left wading through what feels like a semi-fugue state. The story is punctuated with actual passages from the play in which Carmen is inserted as a character. The reader quickly discovers that Carmen is loosing her hold on reality with disastrous results - and not just within her relationship. I have mixed feelings books that follow a character in a dream/fugue state, which is why I oped for 4 stars, because this results in certain aspects of the book remaining open-ended by default . This book was written well so I was okay accepting the state Carmen was in 95% of the time because the book was not loaded with unanswered questions, just one or two (besides the main overall WTF how does this book exist - which is clearly not meant to be answered).
The ending absolutely blew me away. I was not expecting it and I was STUNNED but honestly, it was perfect. One of my top 10 favorite horror book endings.
I've also added the original The King in Yellow and Short Stories by Robert W. Chambers to my TBR - hopefully my reading will result in less chaos. :)
#gameinyellow #netgalley
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