Zero Lives Remaining is a fast-paced, bloody thriller set in a haunted arcade. Bram Stoker award winning author Adam Cesare delivers a fun survival horror tale with indie film vibes where he blends nostalgia with terror in a host-in-the-machine story.
Robby Asaro is dead. And alive. He’s a ghost in the machine, keeping a watchful eye on the arcade where he lost his life two decades before. And the afterlife is good. The best thing ever to have happened to him. But when the conscious electric current formerly known as Robby Asaro makes a decision to protect one of his favorite patrons, Tiffany Park, from a bully, he sets loose a series of violent supernatural events that can’t be stopped. Trapped inside the arcade as the kill count rises, Tiffany and a group of gamers must band together to escape from what used to be their favorite place on Earth…and the ghost of Robby Asaro.
Zero Lives Remaining is a chilling survival horror novella set in a haunted arcade with strong B-movie vibes. Adam Cesare brings his passion for vintage arcade games to the pages of this gripping ghost-in-the-machine tale. Packed with wonderful video game references that never feel forced, but make for an immersive reading experience. The story hits the sweet spot between game enthusiasts and horror readers.
This novella is fast-paced, one of those books you can rip through in a single sitting, that balances suspense with just the right amount of gory goodness–intense but never too overwhelming. I thought I knew who would survive, but Cesare kept me guessing to the final page of the story. The twists are unexpected, keeping me engaged.
While Zero Lives Remaining doesn’t strike the same cord as Clown in a Cornfield, it stands as a tall testament to Cesare’s knack for crafting terrifying horror tales with some great themes. Fans of vintage video games and those looking for their next quick horror read should grab this novella.
Zero Lives Remaining is available at bookstores from Black T-Shirt Books.
