The Games Gods Play

by Abigail Owen

Review

I am not okay. So many of my friends have read The Games Gods Play and loved it, and I honestly have no idea why I didn’t pick it up sooner. Life was busy, yes, but mostly I think I was subconsciously afraid of getting completely hooked—and oh boy, I was right. This book grabbed me from the very first page, and now I’m left devastated knowing I have to wait months for Book 2. I’m actually a little sad I didn’t time my reading closer to its release, because the cliffhanger is brutal.

This isn’t your typical Hades and Persephone story—it’s fresh and unexpected. Think of it as a twist on that classic myth, but mixed with the intense, survival-style games of a Hunger Games type world, where participants are “voluntold” into life-or-death challenges. Even though the story is set in the modern world, the presence of gods gives it a historic, almost timeless feel. On top of that, with these games happening every hundred years, the world carries a subtle post-apocalyptic or dystopian vibe. It’s honestly a perfect blend of so many of my favorite settings, all executed in an incredibly polished and gripping way. If any of this resonates with you, please pick up this book, dive in, and let me know what you think—I would love someone new to talk to about it!