Reading this book reminds me of how much I love reading about Greek mythology. I had a fun time reading this book. Although it took me some time to read the first two chapters, after that, I just fly through it. This is the kind of book that you could finish in one sitting!

It's quite rare to find a fantasy book as stand-alone. So this book already has a plus point if you are looking for a fantasy story but do not want to invest in longer series. This book is fast-paced and packed with an epic adventure. Every chapter is constant action, it will keep you wondering what will happens next.

This book has four POVs which is giving us a better way to understand and connect with the characters. I love Galene and her friends! Each of the characters is so different but complements each other. It's like watching a little gang of a teenager but with god's power 😂

Book: The Immortal Game
Author: Talia Rothschild and A.C Harvey
Published: May , 2021
Publishers: Swoonreads.

Synopsis: Galene , the unnamed goddess is exiled when a war broke at the Mt. Olympus. She and her friends set on a journey to clear her name , but gets caught in an adventure filled with riddles and umpteen hurdles, set by the Olympians themselves . Will they succeed in their mission?

Review: I received this as a part of the bookstagramtour conducted by TBRANDBEYONDTOURS.
This was a surprisingly fantastic read and kept me hooked till the very end. Read this for less known, but fierce Gods and goddesses .This book is for lovers of Greek mythology and dystopian fiction. Beautiful friendships , especially female- female, a slow burn romance, war and riddles are aptly mixed for the perfect YA fantasy. The fact this book has been written by two authors in a well coordinated way is quite appreciable. This adventure packed book is quite fast paced and keeps you on the edge of your seats.

Trigger warning: war and destruction, humiliation

Rating:4/5

<i>I am the daughter of Poseidon, God of Seas.
I will save my friends. I will clear my name.
I will tame the sea.</i>

I haven't read a really good Mythological book in a long time. I was hesitant at first, but let me tell you, this captivated my attention from page one. I couldn't put the book down.

The Immortal Game is filled with magic, gods, friendship, adventure and surreal world building. The world-building throughout the story was such a classic god like setup that it was absolutely perfect. The characters each had their own personalities that made melded together to make the ideal team.

The story is written in multiple POV, which I love. I love when you have different speakers so that you can all of the pieces to the puzzle. You're going to fall in love with Galene, Kostas, Iyana and Braxtos. There is so much adventure packed into this, the story line keeps it moving.

I highly recommend The Immortal Game to anyone who loves a good mythological adventure!

I would like to thank TBR and Beyond Tours as well as the author and publisher for review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Fast-paced and action-packed, The Immortal Game takes its readers to the classic feels of reading Ancient Greek tales full of quests, mythological creatures, and monsters. Fans of Greek mythology will enjoy this novel.

The story followed, Galene, daughter of Poseidon, who was exiled after she failed her Immortality Trial and was framed for the destruction of Olympus. To clear her name, she and her friends went to a quest on retrieving a mythical instrument to stop an insurgency who wanted to see the fall of the gods. Plotwise, the story was interesting and I especially liked the quest parts. The story was also told in multiple POVs. I did not find any issue in this since I actually enjoy reading them. It has a light romance which surprisingly I actually enjoyed since I am not a fan of romance at all. The twist at the end, even it was quite predictable, was good, too.

On the other hand, the characters needed to be fleshed out more in my opinion. I could only see the surface traits of each character, but their interior still needed to be delved more. The main protagonist, Galene, was really likeable. She was loyal and determined. I liked her strong friendship with Iyana. The character dynamics were entertaining, too.

Overall, if you're looking for a quick yet fun read, I recommend The Immortal Game.

3.5/5 stars!

Galene is the daughter of Poseidon. As such she has to prove her value and that she deserves to be immortal.

All the sons of gods must pass this test to gain their immorality at 21, but Galene will do so at 18 for being the daughter of one of the Twelve Olympians, as well as her best friend, Iyana, daughter of Zeus.

The trial consists of defeating a combination of beasts assigned by Fate through cards. Unfortunately, Galene fails her trial, with a chance to retry in 10 more years.

Kostas, God of Games and son of Hermes, has the power to see auras. Galene's beast was so powerful that he suspected sabotage, but seeing the auras of The Twelve, it seems even more likely.

That same night, someone steals the cards and creates random monsters to cause destruction. The problem is that a vision of Apollo clearly shows that Galene did it, but she is innocent. Since no one can face the Twelve, Galene is exiled from Olympus without ever being able to achieve her immortality. Iyana, cannot bear such injustice and decides to go into exile with her, along with her boyfriend Demitri, son of Ares and Aphrodite.

The three decide to look for Chrysander, Galene's brother who exiled himself a few years ago when he did not agree with how things were going in Olympus.

On the way they are caught by Kostas and his best friend Braxtus, Apollo's son and who is madly in love with Iyana.

Chrysander, along with his allies, have a plan to fix things on Olympus. But it involves destroying it. Now Galene, Iyana, Braxtus and Kostas must go on a mission against time to retrieve an object from the Gods, the avyssos, and save Olympus. Or destroy it…

I love Greek mythology books, especially when there is some kind of competition on Olympus. I loved the idea of ​​monsters created using the deck of cards. It was difficult for me to understand it at first due to the names of the beasts, however this becomes clearer as the story progresses.

I had a hard time getting caught on the book in the beginning because there was so much information to absorb. It is told through the points of view of Galene, Iyana, Kostas and Braxtus, but in third person. However, once the story progresses it becomes easy to follow and all the pieces start to fit together. Even after some unexpected twists 🙊.

To find and recover the avyssos, they must face various challenges that test each one's abilities. In which Iyana feels completely useless. I really enjoyed watching her growth in particular, as she managed to find her strength and become a powerful Goddess in more ways than one.

In this story there is room for romance, but it is not the main focus. The focus is the mission of the five friends and their path of growth, in addition to the injustices on Olympus. It has a lot of action and adventure.

It has happened to me more than once in this type of book that the ending disappoints me, but this was not the case. The ending seemed perfect to me and I really hope this story continues in the style of a new Percy Jackson.

Action-packed, beautifully written, and fierce!

I wish this wasn’t a standalone. I need more of these characters.

Galene is such a badass. She’s honestly so cool. I love her personality and her strength. I found her inner conflict really interesting, with one side being her loyalty to Olympus and the Olympians, and the other her anger at being punished for a crime she didn’t commit. Her inner struggles added a whole new depth to her character and it was really fascinating reading about it.

This queen. Iyana is a queen, no one can argue with me. I love her so much. Her character development was amazing. She goes from a shy, sweet girl to a brave, strong warrior and I was there for it. I love her loyalty and her friendship with Galene, and just the way she cares about her. Iyana is probably my favorite character, and that’s saying something because I loved Kostas.

Speaking of Kostas . . .


Kostas and Galene are so cute— I literally can’t. And Kostas is the best. He’s the son of Hermes, and the God of Games (which is actually so cool). I love that he can read other’s emotions and how he’s always trying to cheer everyone up. He’s so sweet and is probably the most level headed of the group. I loved his romance with Galene and his friendship with Braxtus is honestly the best. Also, the fact that Kostas low-key ships Iyana and Braxtus is so amazing (“Kostas looked to Braxtus. He would love her better.“)

Braxtus was probably my least favorite character. I didn’t really care about him, though I shipped him and Iyana from the beginning. He could be really infuriating, but I guess I understood why he acted so reckless. But he did really annoy me.

The world building was pretty good. It wasn’t as detailed as I would have liked it, because greek mythology is such an interesting subject there could have been so many different ways the authors could have gone. But it wasn’t an info dump either, so I can’t really complain. I just wish it was a little more rich and comprehensive.

There were two things I didn’t love about this book; the pacing and the culprit. Let me explain.

The pacing was a bit off. Most times, it was nice and fast-paced, but it took me quite a long time to actually be interested in the story. I feel like a book should draw you in from the start, but despite the fact that the book jumps right into the action, it felt a bit flat and it took me some time to start caring about the characters (Except for Kostas. I loved him from the beginning). I wish we got to see more world-building right from the start.

And the person who framed Galene? That was obvious. Maybe it’s just because I watch a lot of mystery, but I was able to guess who framed Galene pretty quick. I wouldn’t want the culprit to change, but I just want it to be less obvious. I feel like most people would be able to guess who it was.

But overall, I recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading about mythology, or just wants a quick and fast paced read.

​'The Immortal Game' by Talia Rothschild and A.C. Harvey tells the story of Galene, a daughter of Poseidon. When unexpected violence brings death to Mount Olympus, she is exiled for the crime. Separated from the home she loves, Galene's only hope of vindication lies in proving she's not to blame.

On a self-imposed mission to clear her name, the goddess discovers a far more sinister plot that threatens all she holds dear and could see even the most powerful Olympians lost. With a group of friends who follow her willingly into exile, she just might stand a chance.

This story is basically a classic mythology quest in the vein of the Labours of Hercules. The goddess and her group face a long journey with many trials along the way and it's questionable if all will survive through the end. Somewhat less traditional, it moves a bit more like an Indiana Jones film, whereas it's pretty fast-paced and something is always happening. If they're not trying to escape death or capture, they're trying to work their way through some other challenge.

With the possibility of war looming, there are others moving around on the proverbial board as well and that turns the journey into a bit of a race against time. The book was actually a quick read because it was so easy to get invested in the hopeful outcome for the characters and there's always so much going on.. I didn't really want to put it down.

Complicated relationships between some of the party members made for some intriguing dynamics. There's so much tension at times it seems the group might just implode and never see the quest to its completion.

Galene is a likeable character and a strong, female protagonist. It was nice to see a truly supportive female friendship, rather than having to watch them try to rise above one another amongst the others. Overall, I was a big fan of Kostas and Braxtus, but the latter especially has a lot of layers to him and I always appreciate a good substory.

I will say, the storytelling itself is a little choppy at times, but I feel like that's because the authors were trying to accomplish so much in a relatively short novel. It also suffers a little from conveniences allowing characters to easily know or learn what they need to in every moment and I felt like I got a bit too much of Kostas main ability, but ultimately these are minor criticisms.

Some of the elements employed, particularly within the magic system were very interesting. I absolutely loved the concept of the Decks of Fates, but I won't go into detail.

There's a ton of adventure and betrayal to be had here, so if you're looking for something that will keep your interest and you have a fondness for the Greek pantheon, this will probably do it. If on the other hand, even something like 'Lore' had too much mythology for your liking, you're going to want to pass. This book is very mythology heavy and that worked great for me.

Written by Talia Rothschild and A.C. Harvey, The Immortal Game is a thrilling tale of an exiled goddess and her trials to save those who abandoned her.

Galene is the daughter of Poseidon. She's also an exile of Mount Olympus, and the only way to find her way home and earn her place among the gods is to earn their respect. A task easier said than done.

To do what she aims, she must prove who was truly behind the attack she was blamed for. She has to find the traitor among the gods and do so before they can cause more damage to the home she desperately desires to return to.

"I am the daughter of Poseidon, God of Seas.
I will save my friends. I will clear my name.
I will tame the sea."

Apparently, this month has been a month for Greek Mythology for me! Between this and Ariadne, I had a few good books on the lineup. With that in mind, I thoroughly enjoyed The Immortal Game.

This is a novel that hits on many elements that I am especially fond of when it comes to mythology. The corruption and pain that deities can bring with them. The compulsion to fit in and join them. The need to prove one's worth. It's all there and so much more.

In total, there are four perspectives in The Immortal Game – something that I had not expected. I thought that Galene would take the lead, and that would be that. Yet there are three other characters worth mentioning as well: Iyana (daughter of Zeus), Braxtos (son of Apollo), and Kostas (son of Hermes).

"Everything is a game."

Long story short, I loved all four characters, but I especially love the interactions (and romancE) that budded from their presence. It made The Immortal Game even more fun and thrilling than I had anticipated, and that in itself is pure perfection.

I'm not actually a fan of Greek mythology so I don't read very much of books related to it. However, I did have a lot of fun with the Percy Jackson series and The Immortal Game sounds a bit more like the series in that protagonist plus friends are going on an adventurous quest which I thought could be fun; it did not disappoint.

The novel opens with Galene, main protagonist, about to face her trial to earn her place among the gods. It's a pretty exciting start to the novel with more exciting action to come in the second half of the story. I must admit I felt that it dragged a bit during the actual quest journey but that may also be because of the love triangle. This is my pet peeve so unfortunately, that's taken off 1 star but I have to confess that it could've been worse. The fact that I finished reading this novel does mean that the love triangle is only just slightly annoying; just have to persevere 'til just after halfway and it gets better.

There are 4 POVs in this novel but there are 5 in the quest... that in itself is a bit too cluey! I don't know if it was meant to be a twist but it was definitely not at all surprising. While I do like all characters especially the girls as they appear to have grown the most in this story, I think we could do with 1 or 2 less POVs. The girls, Galene & her BFF, Iyana, grew stronger & stronger throughout and in the end, truly came into themselves which I really loved to see in my female protagonists.

Overall, I enjoyed The Immortal Game especially the latter half which is love-triangle-less and action-packed. It's an easy read to relax & unwind with.

My thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for having me on this tour and  copy of ebook in exchange of honest review

The Immortal Game is an action-packed standalone fantasy that introduces a fresh way of reimagining life on Mount Olympus. Instead of the usual demigod champions, we have new generations of gods and goddesses who have yet to take their place as full-fledged Olympian deities. As one of the Unnamed, Galene aims to pass her Trials and reclaim her family’s good name, but the deck of fate remains stacked against her.

I honestly am not expecting to enjoy the book as much as I do because the YA market is already oversaturated with Greco-Roman mythology retellings. I appreciate that it veers away from the “ancient gods in the modern world” trope and chooses to set it in a more timeless context. However, as much as I enjoy what that decision does for the story, the world and vibe does not seem consistent with what I expect–making it feel flat and divorced from its source material. I liked it most when I viewed it as an original world and story that simply shares names and vaguely similar powers with known figures of Greek myths.

It is quite unusual these days to find a standalone YA fantasy book, and I’m so happy that this one was able to fill that gap. The intrigue, the prophecy, the great battle, and the rewards are all present, and it makes for a satisfying read. Though the pacing in the first half of the book felt dragging, the second half kept me turning page after page to keep up with the steadily rising stakes. The second half also employed shorter chapters, and combined with the multiple POVs, makes the climactic battle scenes much more vivid and movie-like.

The multiple POVs work too because of how lovable the characters are. Iyana, in particular, is my favorite person in the group because she is so sweet and yet fiercely loyal to her friends, even to the point of exile. I love reading about Galene and Iyana’s friendship because it is has none of the awkwardness or petty jealousies that seem to mar several girl friendships in other books I have read.

Kostas is my favorite god! I love his power set and how he takes on a rarely talked about aspect of Hermes. As a god of games, he isn’t as much of a trickster as he is a cunning tactician, and his duel showcases that unique perspective to the fullest.

However, the Demetri-Iyana-Braxtus love triange is SO annoying. I hate that Iyana and Braxtus simply assume esch other’s feelings and kick up a lot of really immature fights during their quest that don’t add anything to the plot or to their individual character development. Their dynamic also made the first half of the book so dragging to read.

Shenanigans aside, I like this book! If you want an immersive story that you can devour in just one afternoon, then you might want to check this book out!

This story was so much fun to read! I am a big fan of mythology-based books and books about loyalty, friendship, adventure, standing up for injustly accused and finding your own way in the world. Add not one but two strong female leads to the mix and you've got me swooning!
Unlike Percy Jackson this book doesn't focus on demi-gods, but rather Young, teenage gods, so there is very little connection with the human world. The main characters Galene, daughter of Poseidon, Iyana,daughter of Zeus, Demetri, son of Ares, and Braxtus are so-called unnamed gods, because they still have to take a special kind of test to earn their immortality and future veneration from humans. There is also Kostas, another adorable character, who has already passed his Trial and has earned his name of the God of Games.
Galene fails her test, although there are some doubts about the fairness of the trial in her case. She is sad, but resigned to try again in future. Then unthinkable happens: Mount Olympus is attacked and Galene is framed for what occured. She is exiled. Her best friend Iyana speaks up in her favour and banishes herself in protest against the unfairness of the Gods' decision. They are joined by Demetri,and later Braxtus and Kostas. Once they reach Galene's previously exiled older brother Chrysander, they will have to make some choices that would test their loyalty to  their home and would send them on an unforgettable adventure.
There are several POVs in this book and I loved getting these different perspectives, although I must admit Kostas's was always my favourite, due not only to his character, but also his special abilities. The mix of characters was absolutely perfect, plus they all have to grow and develop in the book to show to the world what they really are and what they are capable of!
The setting and the quest were fantastic- there was so much variety! The pace was excellent- just enough time to let us get to know the characters better and lots of exciting action. One of my favourite scenes was the battle of Iyana with the traitor- it was great to see this generaly quiet and insecure girl realise her power and use it in a spectacular way. Another top moment is the Beast Maker Game, but you have to read the book to find out what it's all about...
Recommended to anyone who loves a good action-packed mythology story.

The Immortal Game was such a fun book. There was so much action throughout the book, starting with Galene's immortality trial to the attack on Olympus to the crew going on exile and their quest within their exile to the final battle of Olympus. There was never a dull moment! I thought it was really interesting that we had 4 main characters and 4 points of view- I didn't mind it too much, but I could see some people finding it either confusing or too much. You never had to guess how anyone was feeling, because there was a POV that told you exactly how they were feeling, which I enjoyed, but I know some people are not the biggest fans of being told all of the information right off the bat like that. In terms of characters/POVs, I really liked the girls (Galane and Iyana)- they had such a great relationship and I'm all about strong bonds/friendships. It was really obvious very early on where the authors were going to have the romantic storylines go (with the love triangle on one side and the other pairing how it was). They weren't built up/too in depth relationship wise, but at the same time, the romantic relationships weren't key to the story, so that didn't bother me too much. In general though, The Immortal Game was a fun, fast paced, action packed YA fantasy filled with Greek Gods and monsters- definitely check it out today!

link to be added when post goes live on June 1st

The Immortal Game automatically caught my attention as a story featuring Greek Mythology. This story stood out to me as it features the children of well-known Gods and Goddesses. These characters are Gods and Goddesses themselves, who live on Mount Olympus. The story surrounds these children, who are mortal, on their quest for immortality and to become “Named” Gods and Goddesses. While this novel is a standalone, the world and characters would be excellent to turn into a series.

Galene is the daughter of Poseidon, who has worked her entire life for her immortal trial. She is loyal to the Olympians and anxious to prove that she is worthy. Her brother, Chrysander, did not feel the same way and chose to be exiled from Mount Olympus, as he wanted to be free of their rules. After Galene’s trial, there is an attack that leads to Galene becoming exiled. Her friend Iyana, daughter of Zeus, does not believe it is right that Galene is blamed when she does not think Galene is capable. She decides that she does not want Galene exiled alone and joins her. Iyana’s boyfriend, Demetri, son of Ares and Aphrodite, joins them to go with Iyana.

The other two that eventually join the story’s journey to clear Galene’s name are Braxtos, Iyana’s ex-boyfriend and son of Apollo and Kostos, the son of Hermes and Braxtos’s best friend. Kostos passed his trial and is now the immortal God of Games while Braxtos still needs to be pass his trial. While in exile, Galene and her group find Chrysander and uncover a plot to destroy the immortal Olympians. Their new quest then becomes to find the relic presented by Chrysander that can either save or destroy Mount Olympus.

The story is told from the third person with four points of view: Galene, Kostas, Braxtos, and Iyana. It was great to see each of their inner thoughts. There were times that I wish the fifth member of their adventure, Dimitri, also had his own chapters, but it did not take away from my enjoyment of the story. All of the characters brought something to the table and were interesting in their own ways. Some of them experience more character development compared to the other characters, but it all felt natural within the story.

Honestly, I was not expecting to like this novel as much as I did. I have already tried to figure out the next time I can re-read it. Although the characters and setting as based on familiar elements, the authors took a unique take on them where everything and everyone is still recognizable yet still unique. The Deck of Fates is one of the most interesting and unique inventions in the story as it takes a characteristic from different mythological beings and combines them to make a new super-creature. There are many elements in this novel, including multiple action sequences that the plot moves at a decent pace. There are some scenes that are a little long, for my taste, but they were not too long that it affected by overall enjoyment. Overall, this was a very captivating story that I did not want to put down and I hope these two authors write a lot more novels like this in the future!

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this fantastic novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

Excitement and tension roll from scene to scene, making this a read which is hard to put down.

Galene needs to pass her trial if she wants to rise to the ranks of a goddess, but unlike everyone in the trials before, as the daughter of Poseidon, she is required to take them three years before the usual age. When she ends up facing an impossible beast, it's not only unsurprising that she fails, but there's reason to believe that she's been set up. But that is the least of her worries as monsters break out, threaten Olympus, and everyone believes she is to blame. Someone is out to get her, but soon she realizes, that it's about more than just her.

When I picked this one up, I really hoped it'd take a fresh twist on Olympus and the gods...and it definitely did. While Zeus and all the other gods were their usual, over-bearing selves, this book steers away from them, for the most part, and heads off on an exciting adventure, which leaves the gods a little more in the shadows. Galene and her friends were easy to root for as they stand by each other from the beginning until the end. Well, mostly. There are some amazing secrets and more than a little well-woven intrigue, which also surprises along the way. But it's exactly these twists and turns, which kept it exciting.

Monster, battles, impossible hurdles and action mark every page as Galene and her group try their best to do what only the strongest gods can do. There's a lot of girl power, but not only. Galene might be strong, but she needs to rely on the others as well. Each of her friends has their strengths and, what I really enjoyed, not every weakness was really a negative. Each character has their own quirks and personalities, and each one is easy to love or dislike. It was fun getting to know them, and the author does a good job at letting each one gain some depth.

And there's romance. Luckily, it's not an instant one but takes a little time to build. Trust has to be earned, and with everything else going on, romance isn't really at the forefront of Galene's mind.

This was a fun read, which grabbed me more than I thought it would.

Galene as character was a total badass, let’s just get that out there. We all know I’m a fan of a strong female lead, and in this case we have two, both Galene and here best friend, Ilyana. We also see from the perspectives of Kostas and Braxtus, which makes the whole thing more interesting; Galene is a natural underwater with it being her element, but with Braxtus being linked to fire, the whole situation is more uncomfortable for him, for example.

Seeing from four different perspectives also allows us to get a different grip on the situation at hand when we initially encounter Galene’s brother, and everything he has started to build. As we learn later on, he has been lying to her about the scope of it for a long time, so when she arrives hoping to find comfort, she is dismayed, and it starts her on the path she ends up on with her friends.

I’m not always a huge fan of romance in young adult books; it very much depends on how it plays out, and in this one the dice rolled well. Kostas and Galene getting to know each other was absolutely adorable, especially as they slowly become braver and braver, becoming more honest as the pages turn. They’re a very good match; Kostas is incredibly logical and Galene has a quick mind, and they both have an emotional side that allows them to connect.

The character development among the group was really impressive as the book rolled along, and I really did enjoy watching them grow and shift with the sands around them, and especially growing as a group as well as individuals.

I’d easily recommend this to friends that enjoy mythology, fantasy, or adventure.

The Immortal Game

Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours, Netgalley and the authors for providing me with a copy.

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Review:
Well this book, this absolute gem of a book was everything I didn’t know I wanted or needed. I have a deep, unfaltering love of all things Greek. Especially mythology.

Gods? Gimme!
Rag-tag bunch of misfits? I NEED IT.
Trials and tribulations? I’m sold.
Romance that doesn’t overshadow the awesome plot? TAKE. MY. MONEY.

This fabulous book pretty much ticked all the boxes for me. The pacing was great and I loved that things didn’t necessarily come easy to the MCs. Usually I’m not that fond of anything more than a dual-pov but this book was so easy to follow and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the perspectives of the 4 MCs.

The character progression throughout is very well done, we see the situations from each of the main characters and the different perspectives and their motives behind them progress nicely and keep your turning the page.

This book will appeal to anyone who has an interest in Greek Mythology and particularly for those who enjoy a more plot driven story rather than romance driven.

Initial Thoughts
I couldn't wait to dive into this book. Children of the greek gods? A test of power to determine if you're worthy of immortality? Sign me up!

Some Things I Liked
Multiple POVs. I loved the different POVs here. They all felt so perfect and I loved that they were distinctly different from each other. Each of the narrating characters had different things that motivated them and drove them to their actions and I loved reading from each of their perspectives.
The romance plots. I also really enjoyed the distinctly different romance plots. Kostas and Galene were probably my favorite because they had snarky banter.
Standalone. I loved that this book wrapped up as one book. I also hated that because I want more of this world and these characters, but I really respect the fact that it wrapped up so succinctly in one book.

Series Value
Give me all the books about these characters and set in this world. I love greek mythology and loved the voices of these authors. I'd happily keep reading.

Final Thoughts.
This book dethroned Percy Jackson as my favorite book inspired by greek mythology. Need I say more?

The Immortal Game was an enthralling story that swept me away! Trials, friendship, teamwork, and twists laced through the pages and made for such an exciting read! If you’re a fan of Greek mythology, then you should definitely pick up this book.

I’m the reason they’re leaving, Galene thought with a heartthrob, and they’re more prepared for this than I am.

This story started off with heart pounding scenes that quickly pulled me in. The children of the Gods and Goddesses had to battle a combination of mythological creatures that were terrifying. Upon winning their Trial, they were granted eternal life. But from Galene’s Trial, she was led down a path where she was accused of a deadly attack and banished from her home, Mount Olympus. In a quest to prove her innocence she was joined by four others. The journey and this group of outcasts had me turning the pages as fast as I could to see what happened next!

"Being a hero is about fighting for something bigger than yourself, despite the obstacles, despite the fear.” He caught her gaze again. “You did that for Galene. You do that every day.” - Braxtus and Iyana

My heart became attached so quickly to this group of outcasts. We had Galene daughter of Poseidon, Iyana daughter of Zeus, Kostas son of Hermes, Braxtus son of Apollo and Demitri son of Ares. With every step they took, it felt like there was an insurmountable obstacles in their way. Not only was it physically challenging, and we got to watch the powers and gifts each of them had. But it was also mentally taxing too. They knew they had to work together, even if there were struggles between some of those in the group. So I loved watching them learn to trust, put faith and try to have each other’s backs every step of the way.

She tumbled backward through the air.
And smiled.
Stretching her hands to either side, she unleashed the tempest inside her.

The story alternated between four of the characters and while that’s usually not my thing, I loved this format! Each of them became that much more entrenched in my heart and I was shocked how equally invested I was in each of them! My heart ached as they faced different fears and worked their way through personal struggles. But from beginning to end they grew. And the friendship between Galene and Iyana and Kostas and Braxtus warmed my heart. On top of that, there were two different romances I was rooting for. I don’t want to say anymore other than my heart was so, so, so happy with how it all turned out! Plus I loved that this story made it feel as though I was watching a movie play before my eyes.

Galene fell, a sob tearing from her lungs.
Gold ichor pooled around his head, his bare arms and legs stained with deep golden bruises. His eyes were closed, his lips parted, his body still.
She clawed her way to him, shuddering with sobs.

The Immortal Game led us down a path filled with peril and friendship! If you love Greek Mythology, like I do, you’re going to fall head over heels in love with all of the elements that can be found in this tale. From the characters, to their richly imagined world, to even the mythical creatures that nightmares were created from, so much can be found in these pages! I was so happy that my favorite Gods, Goddesses and even creatures I was terrified of were included in this epic quest and battle. This is a book I can’t wait for my littles to read and I think it would be a great transition for when they’re ready to step from MG to YA!

“Believe it or not, I still don’t want to hurt you.”
“Funny,” she growled. “Because I do.”
She pulled back and let a spike fly.

PS While this is a standalone that ends absolutely fabulously, I can definitely see other stories panning out in this world in the future *fingers crossed*.

Move over Percy Jackson, Galene and her band of friends are here to protect Olympus.

Galene is a failure. As the daughter of Poseidon. she is expected to pass the Immortality Trials and take her place next to her father on Olympus. It is all she has ever wanted, all she has trained for her whole life. But the Fates have other plans and she doesn't even make it past her first Trial. Galene is devastated, embarrassed and angry but her friends and boyfriend are there to support her. Unfortunately, she has to wait ten years before she can try again. Ten years of waiting around seems like a long time. But things are about to get interesting. Olympus is attacked and Galene is blamed. She must clear her name, even if that means going to ask for help from someone who themselves betrayed the Gods years ago. A question is posed to her, "isn't freedom more important than eternal life?" A fascinating idea that is explored. Galene may be a child of the Gods but in a way she is trapped by it, a slave to the expectations set upon her by the pantheon and by herself.

I enjoyed the friendship between Iyana and Galene. Iyana is strong and loyal, which is the type of friendship girl's need to see in YA. I also enjoyed the female driven plot. As someone who loved the Percy Jackson series growing up, this is a more mature take for older teens who love Greek mythology in books. The story is written in four POV's but not as first person which I really appreciated. For me, if a book is going to be first person, it should be entirely one POV and not switch. The authors did a great job sharing bits and pieces of the characters inner workings while keeping things flowing. The love triangle seemed a little cliche for a YA but in the end it found its place within the overall plot. This was long for a YA, but it is written as a standalone with a nicely wrapped up ending. The plot twists were good, despite being slightly predictable as an adult reader, but overall filled the void I had after Percy Jackson.

This book is full of action packed battles, family dynamics, betrayal, budding romance, honest friendships and so much more that make it a worthy read. Not one to miss out on!

THE IMMORTAL GAME is an adventure-based YA fantasy stemming from Greek mythology. Mount Olympus is run by the gods and goddesses we all know, but their children also compete for immortality through a battle trial. The book begins with Galene, daughter of Poseidon and Aphrodite, competing for her immortality. When she draws the cards, it seems as though they are stacked against her and impossible to pass. Her failure means she will have to age 10 more years before she can attempt again.

After she fails, monsters are unleashed on Olympus, and she is blamed for the chaos that follows. Although innocent, the sentencing of the gods is swift, and Galene is exiled, never to become an immortal nor see her family and friends on Olympus again. Her BFF, Iyana, daughter of Zeus, chooses to go into exile with her, believing in her innocence and is joined by her boyfriend, Demitri, who is ready to take a stand against Olympian injustice.

Without anywhere else to go, they seek out Galene's brother who betrayed Olympus and has been determined to overthrow the regime with the help of vengeful, exiled gods and goddesses. Once there, they learn of new plots that set them on quests they could never have imagined - with the help of their other friends, Kostas and Braxtos.

What I loved: This plot was so imaginative, and I loved the mythology and questing elements throughout. The story moves quickly, and the writing is action-packed with everything moving the story forward. I appreciated the surprising twists that are scattered throughout. The book is also told through the perspective of multiple characters, but it manages to be easy to follow and gives the story a lot of dimensionality. The riddles, quests, beasts, and games were all very imaginative, and the world-building was strong.

Final verdict: Imaginative, action-packed, and full of mythology, THE IMMORTAL GAME is a strong YA fantasy/adventure read that will appeal to fans of LORE and Percy Jackson.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.