A Game of Strength and Storm is a gender-bent retelling of the Labours of Hercules and that had me wanting to read this book. I'm a sucker for Greek Mythology at the best of times, but a well-written retelling will always have me wanting to get lost in the story and Rachel Menard's story was no exception.

Our protagonist Gen, is a MindWorker and through using her blood, hair or saliva can control (willing) animals to do their will. The animals can refuse something that they strongly disapprove of which I thought was well done, and is a reminder that free will is always so important in life. She's been a victim of circumstance and lost everything and is determined to save her father from false imprisonment. (No spoilers I promise, this is all mentioned in the synopsis!)

She's well-written and although the way her perspective of all that unfolds highlights she's the good guy in this battle? She's not perfect and is aware of that herself - she's prone to mistakes and has made decisions she's later regretted but that is a human trait; no one is infallible.

I liked that not only do we get Gen's perspective but also those of the two StormMakers, twins Castor and Pollux. Their ability sounds both dangerous and also incredible - they can capture and control nature especially lightning and wind which truly does sound like you'd be a God with that power. This comes with a weight of responsibility that Lady Castor disregards and makes her the perfect antagonist but also a victim of her arrogance and desires.

I quite liked her Devil May Care attitude to a degree but she's also horrible for something she does. (I wasn't a happy reader at all and was cursing her to be hit by her lighting storm!) Pollux on the other hand is more level-headed and Menard has written him in such a beautiful way that I could see in my mind him weaving miniature storms, winds etc to tell stories and it was just *chef's kiss*.

The true evil is the Empresses, and I did hope to read more of their barbaric ways but a true villain is always written well and those of Grecian Mythology are on another level of insanity. The games the Empresses play with their citizens lives are another level and to know they simply don't care of things go wrong was delicious. (Yes, I am giggling maniacally because I can't help but find them both awful and incredible.. I'm a bad person.)

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦. 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦, 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

The concept of the lottery is an excellent albeit terrible idea - and I can only imagine how desperate you'd be to enter as all seem to know that their hope comes with the knowledge they would have their hands metaphorically tied behind their back. The Empresses are manipulative and always 10 steps ahead. Menard's dedication to give each of those facing the rulers to be unique with very different and hard to accomplish wishes mirror the difficult or should I say Herculean tasks from the original tale.

I love this book, the world-building is well done and not overly complicated so if doesn't distracf from the story, and how if affects the three people trying to get what they need. I will need to get the sequel as soon as I can, as we're left on a cliffhanger that has me wondering just how much Gen will have you go to find happiness and save her father...

Also, Pollux deserved the biggest of hugs because he's lovely. His unwavering ability to believe in not only more, but the good each ability could have especially his own is refreshing.

What does this book NOT have?

Mythology retelling with a gender twist
Magic
Mythological Animals
Cinnamon roll, boy falls first
Bada$$ heroine
Fantasy
And more!

Pick it up if you want to read a female version of Hercules.

I haven't read many Greek mythology inspired books, but I'm quite picky when it comes to it. And I can surely say that this is one became one of my favourites of this theme.

"Game of Strength and Storm" is inspired by 12 labour's of Heracles (also known as Hercules). What I found interesting is that in this story, we don't follow a half God man, but a seventeen-year-old girl who travels in the mouth of the whale and can talk with animals. And! She had a competitor who was trying to do the same labour's and get ahead of her.

To be honest, I don't know how to tell you about this book without sharing spoilers, so I won't say much at all.

But what I do want to point out is:
It was so close to the myth, yet so far away at the same time. I just loved seeing connections, but the story still tells its own story.
The reason it lost one star was the love interest development. I know it's YA book, but it just didn't convince me.
It seemed like there was space left for Castor and her redemption ark. I did see her being described as morally grey, too. Yet, I don't think she deserves a redemption.
Argos is a cutie!
I loved anxiety representation. I could relate to it and understand how sometimes we don't see things that seem so clear to others, but we're blind to it because of things in our heads.

It was a really nice read overall!

I just finished 𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎 by @menardrachel and I adored this book! It's imaginative and refreshing! This book is packed with things that I love about YA Fantasy. Memorable characters, a gripping storyline, loaded with adventures, and a fascinating world-building/magic system. I honestly crave more YA fantasy stories after reading this one.

In 𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎 we follow Gen and Castor. They must race to complete the better half of ten nearly impossible labors the Olympian Empresses gave. It's the price they need to pay for their wish to be granted. Gen wants the freedom of her father, who was sentenced to life in prison for murders she knows he didn’t commit. While Castor needs the Empresses' help to change her island’s laws that require a male heir because she plans to carry the island into the future in place of her brother, Pollux.

⬦⬦𝟝 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎
• Whether you are a fan of Greek Mythology or not, you will enjoy this gender-bent reimagining of the labors of Hercules
• This book has an appealing world-building & magic system. It's still attractive for someone familiar with fantasy, but won't make you confused either if it's your first time reading a fantasy story.
• Well-written characters! I genuinely enjoy reading and following their journey in this book.
• The quest and the adventure never made me bored plus with the fierce competition between our two MCs, it's 😘
• Multi POV book already gets one extra point for me, but when each POV is equally interesting and attention-gripping, I am SOLD!
+ If you are a sucker for beautiful book covers, then you have an extra reason for picking up this book

"Game of Strength and Storm" by Rachel Menard is an exhilarating and immersive young adult fantasy novel that delves into themes of power, magic, and the complexities of navigating a world filled with intrigue and danger. Menard's storytelling expertise shines as she crafts a tale of epic quests, formidable challenges, and the bonds of friendship that can shape destinies. The book's intricate world-building and compelling plot create an engaging reading experience that captivates fans of fantasy fiction. Menard skillfully explores the emotions of courage, loyalty, and the struggle for control, adding depth to the narrative. "Game of Strength and Storm" is an electrifying reminder that in a world where forces clash and magic runs wild, the choices made can determine the fate of kingdoms, leaving readers with a sense of adventure and anticipation for the twists and turns that await in this thrilling fantasy saga.

An interesting book, but despite being a new interpretation of a Greek myth that I particularly like (Hercules), I felt that something was missing to make me feel passionate about reading and writing, if it is published in Portuguese, I will probably give it another opportunity, to see if it wasn't the fact of reading in another language that didn't leave such a fluid reading.

I liked some specific points of the fantastic part, but the romantic part didn't conquer me.

Overall an interesting book.

I have to say - this was a pretty enjoyable read. I enjoyed the focus of Greek mythology in the plot and scenery. I am not well versed in the Hercules 12 labors so IK had to do a bit of research to under this was a genderbent retold version of it. However, not having this knowledge ahead of time did not hinder my ability to enjoy this story. Game of Strength and Storm has multiple points of views, which is always a selling point for me. I like to dive into a story and hear the perspective of the main characters. Rachel Menard was bale to write POV's well and create a storyline that did not feel disconnected. It was a fast paced read that didn't feel too predictable.

There are ten winners and those ten winners can receive a wish. But there's a catch - they have to complete/win 6 of the 10 tasks needed to have their wish granted by the Empress. The competition aspect of the story sold me heavily and was one of the main reasons I continued reading on. It gave the nostalgic feeling form the books I read as a teen of competitions and survival.

When thinking of the characters, I enjoyed Gen, Castor and Pollux for very different reasons. Gen has the ability to speak to animals and has a wish to free her father from prison. Gen felt like the character with the moral compass. Her storyline was similar to Castor because their wish to rule could feed their other wishes. What I admired most about Gen was her love towards her family. She was truly fighting for them and it showed. Castor is also a very strong character, but may be going about things in an unpopular opinion kind of way. Pollux, her brother is next in line to rule their island of Arcadia - the very throne Castor wants. Her mission is to dismantle the misogyny by having her wish granted to become the next ruler. Sounds great right? Well when you have a teddy bear, sweetheart of a brother, it is hard to focus or root for someone who wants to see his lineage disrupted to become Queen. Regardless of Castor's not so altruistic wish, her determination and strong will make her a force to be reckoned with.

There was a small romance brewing between Gen and Pollux but I felt that it wasn't developed enough to know if it would be a developing relationship or just a crush. I'd be excited to see overall how the story along with the romance pans out in future books.

You take a great premise, fantastic characters, and an amazing setting- you get this book. It was a great read. The fact that it's like a gender-bent Hercules just made it better. I love Greek mythology and I love the story of Hercules, so it was amazing to see the story but with powerful women.

A good read, with a few dead moments and a few differences in terms of plot pace that I don't really like. With well built characters, an original and engaging plot, it was an enjoyable read even though it didn't become a favorite.

Forgot to read it, eventually read it as a buddy read with a friend (own copy).

We both felt like there was something off about this book, but we're unsure what exactly it is.
The plot itself takes a little while to be introduced and we felt as if the whole story was slow moving. Which made it a little boring in the middle part. Mostly because we missed some action and more world building. It took a little while before we understood the dynamics and in our opinion the setting was a little weak for a fantasy story.
Overall the characters were very flat and we had a hard time bonding with them. We understand what the author tried to do with them, but we weren't fully convinced.

I really struggled to get into at first and I'm a big mythology nerd but it was worth it to push through because IT'S SOOOO GOOD! I love myself a greek mythology retelling and this book delivered exactly that. Kudos to my sapphic rep always nice to read about queer characters. Totally recommend.

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Alas, another time when I fell victim to an alluring cover and intriguing synopsis! I thought a retelling of the labors of Hercules but with *magic* would be so cool.

It was not cool.

This book was both too long and too short, if that makes sense. The labors felt like they were too easily accomplished. But the storytelling was so repetitive that it made reading a slog. I skimmed a lot of it, to be honest. I wanted more depth, more world-building from this story. Sure, it's set in ancient Greece but it's an alternate ancient Greece and we needed more to firmly root us in the world.

The characters are universally weak. There are minimal character arcs, if they exist at all. Pollux's motivation for getting involved should have been something else and morphed into what it was. Otherwise, he has nowhere to go. Castor seemed like an underdeveloped Azula. There were parts that I'm sure were meant to be an emotional punch but they lacked any power because the characters are so hard to connect to. And the romance came out of nowhere! It's unbelievable.

It felt like the chapters were written episodically. It was almost as if someone thought the readers needed to be reminded of past events in every chapter. It was so tiring.

I know my rating for this book is in the minority and maybe I'm too old to enjoy this (like other reviewers have posited). But I think this has flaws that readers of any age will be annoyed by.

This one's a no for me.

I enjoyed this book. Some parts felt a bit slow but I’m very excited for the next book to get more of Castors story

***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book.***

‘Game of Strength and Storm’ by Rachel Menard was an action-packed, highly entertaining quick read for me. I really loved it. Recommend!

This book was so much fun! I loved the characters and the storyline. I love stories based on Greek mythology, and I was not disappointed with this gender-bender. A retelling of Hercules and the 12 Labors, this was an absolute blast!

I thoroughly enjoyed Gen and Castor! I understand if people have strong feelings about Castor, but I understand why she is the way she is. She is a “by any means necessary,” and I loved her. However, her land’s methods are archaic, which prevents her from being the leader her country needs.

Gen is trying to save her father. She’s crafty, super strong and brilliant. But, of course, it doesn’t hurt that Castor’s brother, Pollux, has feelings for her. He’s willing to help Gen in her journey to fulfill as many labors as she can before Pollux. However, assisting Gen is helping himself.

Pollux is a fascinating character, and he’s fantastic. He has an artistic and soft side to him. Unfortunately, I think his sister underestimates him. I will never think of the violin the same. With each of them having their own perspectives, this book is quite impressive! There’s humor, a little romance, and a fantastic plot. (And the cover is stunning!)

I’m really looking forward to book 2!

I received this book from NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review.

This book starts off pretty slow. An interesting premise, but definitely a slow burn that takes its time. I enjoyed this book for the most part. The characters were well crafted, the plot was solid and the world building was good.

I just can’t forgive the ending.

The rules were simple and straight forward yet that final twist really burned my biscuits. It just feels like a set up and so illogical that I simply don’t believe it. It is one thing to have people not follow the rules, Hunger Games is a perfect example of this, but this feels like a stretch. I know this is a fictional tale, but there has to be some believability and for me, it went too far.

I’m not asking for a happy ending or even fairness, but this just feels like a cheap way to extend a story beyond its prime. The book should have ended here, but for some odd reason, it’s still going. There’s literally no reason to extend this book yet here we are on a cliffhanger ending and it just doesn’t make any sense.

I think the author wanted both of the characters to win and there was a way to do that, but this wasn’t the way. There was a clear and perfect way to end this and yet have both characters win but for some reason the author chose this path. I am utterly baffled and conflicted.

This book had so much potential to be great. A lot of great work went into it, but the ending was just not right. I cannot read any other books from this author, but I wish them the best with the next installment.

I couldn't put this one down! Gen and Castor couldn't be any more different from each other - but they are both working towards the same goal. They are trying to beat each other at a very dangerous game to win a prize worth the world to them. Gen is trying to get her father out of prison after being wrongly accused. Castor is trying to inherit a title she can't reach because she's a female. Who will win?

The characters were all so very diverse and well fleshed out. I be really feel like I got to know each of them. The plot was a wild one, with plenty of jaw dropping surprises along the way. The pacing was fast, I had to keep going to see what happens next! The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger which will have you begging for the next book in the series. Which as soon as it's out I will be reading! Great story!

In a reimagining of the Herculean labors, Gen must compete with the power-hungry Castor for a boon from their Empresses. Gen will use her Amazonian (here called Mazon) strength and her ability to influence or even control animals' minds to try and exonerate her father of a crime she's sure he didn't commit. Intervention from the Empresses is the only way to get him released from prison, especially since public opinion has labeled him a terrifying mind-control murderer. Castor has her own reasons for taking on impossible tasks. Her island's primogeniture laws mean the duchy will pass to her useless brother instead of to her, the one with actual business acumen and ambition. She needs the Empresses to change the outdated, misogynistic laws since her father will never see reason otherwise. She completes challenges using her twin powers of throwing both lightning bolts and money at problems that present themselves. When all else fails, she's happy to bully others into submission or intimidate them into compliance.

Throughout the challenges, I appreciated the way the multiple POVs are handled. Castor shines as this twisted version of someone who could have been a heroine if she weren't ruthless, self-centered, and arrogant. She's also queer (possibly a lesbian), so we love that for her. Gen is a blend of ferocity and insecurity, growing in strength on multiple fronts the more tasks she completes. Her love interest, Pollux, is also Castor's brother. He adds a nice third flavor to the POVs as someone who trusts and loves easily, a sort of kind, bumbling helper. He also happens to be a violin virtuoso and capable of hurling weather around like his sister.

The world is vaguely Greek inspired in terms of names and creatures. A monkey with a hundred eyes is Argos, for example. However, this isn't a retelling or even set in Greece. It's its own world with its own rules. In some ways, I think that's a refreshing take since it's not beholden to an ancient society as the sole source of material. I didn't find it hard to follow the magic system or the touch of lore.

In terms of relationships, the tumultuous sibling bond between Castor and Pollux is intriguing, but the romantic entanglement between Pollux and Gen fell flat for me. Pollux has long held a starstruck crush on Gen, resulting in a cross between hero worship and love. Gen ends up falling for Pollux because of his relatively straightforward adoration. I didn't think there was anything wrong with it, exactly. But I'm not particularly inspired by an emotional bond with that as the foundation.

Furthermore, I didn't find the plot as engaging as I anticipated. It's an adventure story in constant motion, which often appeals to me, but in this case, nothing roused my curiosity, empathy, or enthusiasm to make the journey worth it. Approaching each task felt like crossing something off a list rather than an experience unto itself that held my whole attention. This book has good bones, and it's kicking off a new series with a cast of fun characters and many adventures ahead. I think many ya fantasy readers will enjoy the ride and come back for more. Thanks to Flux for my copy to read and review!

The premise of this book made me want to read it as soon as I saw it, and it really delivered everything it promised! It was fast-paced, fun, adventurous and the competition was as interesting as you might imagine.

Game of Strength and Storm brings us a story of two characters, both determined to win a competition but with very different methods and overall goals. It brings us a reimagined story of the labors of Hercules, with the tasks divided between two girls. Our first protagonist, Gen, has found herself here because she wants the empresses' pardon for her father who's in prison for crimes Gen believes he didn't commit. She is fierce and determined, but most of all good and kind and her morals guide her through some very tough situations. She is judged harshly for the magic she possesses, but she's still full of love, for her family, and her animal friends. On the other hand, we have Castor, who is here because she wants to inherit the island of Arcadia instead of her brother Pollux. With her father currently reigning, she knows there's no other way to accomplish that but to gain the empresses' endorsement. She possesses much different magic from Gen's but she is ruthless and determined to a fault. To achieve their goals, the girls must race against each other, as there are ten tasks to be completed and there can be only one winner - the one who completes more challenges first.

First of all, I want to say I'm so glad I read this. I've been in the mood for exactly a book like Game of Strength and Storm, with its magic, its interesting world, and the impossible challenges. The plot was great and the pacing was really good, fast, and even - there was no dragging towards the middle. It took me maybe a chapter to really get into the story. I think the world was really interesting, and I wish there was a bit more world-building. The world is clearly ancient Greece-adjacent, and I wish we got a bit more information about how everything works. There are Oracles mentioned, and there are the Empresses but I wish we knew if there are gods or any such entities. Other than that, I really liked the different types of magic we see, and I hope the next book will explore them even more.

Gen is definitely my favorite character in the novel. We know the most about her, she's the most developed character, with a full backstory, and with her personality, it's easy to love her. Gen's mother was a Mazon (where she gets her superhuman strength from) and her father is a MindWorker, just like she is. Being a MindWorker for her means she gets to communicate with animals and also that she is ostracized from wider society, as everyone is afraid of her. Especially with her father, in prison for murders for which it's believed he used his powers. She walks into the challenges selflessly, only thinking about her father and saving him. She also refuses to make her animal friends stay with her, she wants them to want to be there. She is a great, strong character, she is what you would imagine if you thought of a hero. We know much more about her, and we see more of her so I've defaulted to seeing Gen as the main main character, if that makes sense, but her story and her character are interesting enough that it is no surprise.

Castor, on the other hand, is definitely harder to sympathize with. Yet, I do like her as a character. She comes off as cunning, cold, and ambitious, but beneath that, she just seemed scared. Terrified of not being good enough, of being left behind of being in her brother, Pollux's shade. She sees her brother as soft and therefore unfit to rule, so she justifies her actions as wanting what's best for Arcadia, but frankly, I think she wants to be the one in power for once. While Pollux is willing to share his throne, she constantly says she doesn't want a pity-half of everything, she wants the entire thing. She definitely does many inexcusable things, and hurts many people (and animals) without any real necessity, so she's very hard to like but she's nonetheless a very interesting character. She has many moments in her chapters where we see her lashing out of hurt, acting impulsively, and often expressing regret for the things she's done. Her place in the world, in her family, is what's hardened her, so we see her snapping back to her cold self even after honest moments of doubt. I think there is so much more to her than we saw in the book, and I wish the second book puts her in the forefront more, as I would love to see more of her (and maybe see how her story with a girl she's met plays out).

I will be very short on Pollux, I loved him as a character but I definitely wish we knew more about him as well as Castor. This is probably why I felt like Gen was the sole main character, even though all three have their POV chapters - she is the most fleshed-out one. Pollux was super sweet from what we've seen. He and Castor are twins, and they could not be more different. He is fierce in his own way, but he is quiet, thoughtful, and gentle. I really liked him as a love interest, and this is a great book if you love stories where the boy falls first.

All in all, I thought this was a great book, a great start to the story and I cannot wait for the next one! The way it ended definitely left me wanting more immediately. As I mentioned, I hope the next book brings more world-building, magic, and Castor and Pollux! I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy fast-paced adventures and interesting characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review!