Very much a middle-book-in-a-trilogy. Not bad, but not as good as the first one. Predictable at times in a good way. Rebecca is not a very likeable character though, so I'm hoping to see some character development in the last book. Don't get me wrong, HP isn't likeable either, but that's not really the point of him, and he definitely does grow with the story, while hers is more of a negative development. ( )

I wasn't sure where this one was going to pick up but here we are four months after the first book ended. HP is on the run and Rebecca is adjusting to her life. This book kept me on my toes more than the first one. I had no clue where the author was going to take me but what a ride it was. I don't want to give anything away but I will say I fricking loved where HP ended up working and the job he ended up doing. Completely fascinating and a bit scary if you ask me. Anyway, I cannot wait for the 3rd one to see how it all ends. The formatting issues I had with the first one were definitely solved in this one so it was much easier to follow. I also received this book from NetGalley and I hope to receive #3 soon so I can find out how it all ends! ( )

Game and Buzz are the first two books in a three book thriller series by Swedish author Anders de la Motte.

In Game, the first installment, we meet Henrik “HP” Pettersson and his sister Rebecca Normén. HP is an aimless loser while Rebecca is a bodyguard with the Swedish Security Police. When HP acquires a cell phone left behind on a train, the mysterious device keeps asking him if he wants to play a game. He was just going to sell the thing for some quick cash, but when it asks him by name to play the game, he decides to give the game a try. He becomes embroiled in a game that is wide spread, more vicious than he could have ever anticipated, and more profitable if he is willing to take big risks. When HP decides to play this most dangerous game where his every move seems to be watched, he inadvertently gets his sister involved.

In Buzz HP was on the run for four months after the events in Game, but a set-up and circumstances force him back to Sweden where, in order to investigate why he was targeted overseas (and to see if it was part of the Game), he gets a job by masquerading as someone else. In the meantime Rebecca is facing trumped up charges and is suspended from the security Police. While she's waiting for the investigation to be completed a cop-blogger seems to be targeting her for a fall.

In both Game and Buzz there are many references to social media and how it can be (or is) used for nefarious purposes or at least for influencing and trying to sway public opinion in a targeted direction. While they were interesting and at times quite thrilling, for me, at least, it felt like something was lost in the translation from the original. The whole narrative in both books just switches back and forth from HP to Rebecca with no indication of a transition. I got used to it over two books but it also diminished much of the potential enjoyment of the series.

Honestly, I found HP grating and annoying, while, basically, I liked Rebecca. Over time HP redeemed himself slightly above annoying in Game and into Buzz, but then I just grew tired of him and Rebecca - not a good sign. My lack of empathy with the characters coupled with the lack of transitions did not bode well for me overlooking the language and unattractive actions of the characters. While there were some interesting ideas, in the end both books amounted to a so-so read for me.

Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Atria/Emily Bestler Books via Netgalley for review purposes. ( )

Just like book 1 of the series, tremendously entertaining, but you have to suspend disbelief. It races on at a terrific pace, twisting and turning in all sorts of directions. I think that the writing is a bit better in this book, perhaps because the events are a bit less fantastic. I love a god comic, which is what this is, only rendered in text. I purchased book 3 immediately after I finished this one and will read it in the next month! ( )

A decent follow up to the first book but once again it has that same maddening habit of cutting away form each character just as you are being involved.

This is Game but on a bigger scale and looks at the internet and social interaction. It looks at trolling and how commenters online can steer a conversation one way or another and the fact that 90% of these profiles are fake and just designed to get an opinion out there, and support it. You'll never look at the comments section the same way again. ( )