by: Abigail Owen
Series: The Crucible
Genre: New Adult Fantasy Romance/Mythology/Romantasy
Release Date: September 3, 2024
Publisher: Entangled ~ Red Tower Books
The gods love to toy with us mere mortals. And every hundred years, we let them…
I have never been favored by the gods. Far from it, thanks to Zeus.
Living as a cursed office clerk for the Order of Thieves, I just keep my head down and hope the capricious beings who rule from Olympus won’t notice me. Not an easy feat, given San Francisco is Zeus’ patron city, but I make do. I survive. Until the night I tangle with a different god.
The worst god. Hades.
For the first time ever, the ruthless, mercurial King of the Underworld has entered the Crucible—the deadly contest the gods hold to determine a new ruler to sit on the throne of Olympus. But instead of fighting their own battles, the gods name mortals to compete in their stead.
So why in the Underworld did Hades choose me—a sarcastic nobody with a curse on her shoulders—as his champion? And why does my heart trip every time he says I’m his?
I don’t know if I’m a pawn, bait, or something else entirely to this dangerously tempting god. How can I, when he has more secrets than stars in the sky?
Because Hades is playing by his own rules…and Death will win at any cost.
Immediately, Abigail sucks you into the story/life of twenty-three-year-old Lyra Keres. Lyra was cursed at birth by Zeus to be unloveable. When she was three, her parents traded her to “The Order of Thieves” to pay off debts. Twenty years later, she’s still working for “The Order” as a clerk, though her debts have long been repaid. While she cares for others, she doesn’t have friends or people who say they love and care about her.
It’s the night before the start of The Crucible and The Order is out in force near Zeus’ temple in San Fransico. In a moment of frustration, Lyra is about to do something that could potentially draw Zeus's ire. She’s stopped by none other than Hades himself. After a little back and forth, the two go their separate ways, but not for long. Hades has never chosen a champion to represent him in The Crucible, but this year is different. To the world’s surprise, including the gods and goddesses themselves, Hades enters the games and chooses Lyra to represent him. And so a woman who has always been invisible and lived in the shadows is about to be thrust into the world of gods and become a legend.
Admittedly, I’m not a reader of mythology books. If you were to ask me to name some of the gods and goddesses, I might be able to name a handful. The Games Gods Play had me craving to learn more about them.
I so loved this story. It’s full of passion, death, and friendship. There are some gruesome moments. But there’s also the theme of found family and sacrifice. I LOVED the touch her and die elements of the story. Oh, I forgot to mention that Hades is VERY much attracted to Lyra, though he tries his best to hide and deny it.
Lyra is truly an amazing heroine. She believes in helping others, sometimes to the detriment of herself. She has a huge heart and doesn’t see herself the way others see her. Lyra and Hades are magnets. Their interactions were fun and frustrating to watch. They are definitely one of my favorite couples.
While The Games Gods Play has romance, the title says it all. The gods and goddesses use the Crucible as a way to have fun and play around with the mortals. They don’t always care about them or what happens to them. For some, the more violent and deadly the game the better. For some, they think they and their chosen champion should win by any means necessary. One thing for sure is that win or lose, Lyra, Hades, the rest of the gods and goddesses, and their champions will never be the same.
~ Favorite Quotes ~
“Nothing is ever what it looks like. Question everything.”
“You can do this.”
“Quitters never win, and winners never quit. But survivors change the game.”
“I can go one of two ways in life. Become angry and bitter, or deliberately choose to look at each day as an adventure. I chose the latter.”
“Sometimes, bravery isn’t actually bravery. It’s just foolishness wrapped up in a pretty package.”
“Trying is for people who expect to lose.”
“We all do foolish things for the people we love.”
**Received a copy of the book courtesy of the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it. Also personally purchased a deluxe hardcover copy.**
Rating: 5
Purchase The Games Gods Play from:
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Abigail attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing) and an MBA. However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.
Abigail currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own swoon-worthy hero, their angelic (mostly) kids, who are growing up way too fast, and 2 adorable fur babies.
Places to find Abigail Owen:
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