It’s been a while since I’ve read a YA fantasy, but as soon as I saw the cover and premise for Game of Strength and Storm, I knew it was one I’d want to read. And wow, was I right! Pretty much from the first page, I was hooked. As a Greek Mythology fan, I thought it’d be neat to see how a labors of Heracles retelling would go. While I assumed it would be epic, I was not fully prepared for how absolutely amazing this book would be. From very early on in the story, I guessed this would be a five-star read if the ending didn’t change the course of things too drastically, and it did not disappoint. Game of Strength and Storm has officially made it to my current favorites of 2022 list!

To start with, let’s talk about the world building. I’m pretty particular about how I like my world building in fantasy novels. It’s a fine line between too much detail (or my least favorite: info dumping) and giving the reader so little they have no idea what’s going on. My favorite worldbuilding is the kind that’s done through brief descriptions and the interactions the characters have with the world, and that’s exactly what Game of Strength and Storm provided. By the time the book ended, I had a vivid image in my mind of this world and the characters. There were various climates visited through the trials, and I was able to picture all of them with ease.

The magic system was also particularly neat! While definitely a dangerous power in the wrong hands, the StormMakers and MindWorkers were such a clever concept. The way Castor could take a vial filled with a specific type of storm and turn it into a deadly weapon, at first made it seem like a power that could never be used for good. But then, we get to see Pollux and the way he created beauty from the elements. It just goes to show how anything can be used for bad, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be good either.

Out of the two, the MindWorkers power was probably my favorite, though, just because I love animals so much, and the idea that I could speak to them by feeding them a bit of my hair or spit is so cool. The bonds Gen had with all of her animals were so heartwarming, too, especially the whale. I bonded with Argos the most, and I really hope we get to see more of him in future books.

One of my absolute favorite parts of this book was the characterization. I swear, even some of the characters who only appeared for a few moments were so fleshed out that they left impressions on me several chapters after their arrival. Additionally, the three main characters, Gen, Castor, and Pollux were incredibly developed. I felt so attached to each of them, as if I knew them personally. Even Castor, who I didn’t particularly like.
It's really difficult for me to enjoy stories when I don’t care about the characters, but even though Castor was cold and at times unlikeable, I still cared about her and her storyline. I was engrossed in her chapters and always wanted to know more about what was happening on her side of the labors. Castor is a complex and compelling morally grey character that I loved reading about.

Gen and Pollux were equally as engaging. Out of the three, Gen would be my favorite character, but I’m also so excited that we got to see Pollux’s side of the story, since his thoughts and motivations were such an essential factor in the plot. Personality wise, Gen was standoffish because of her past, but Pollux managed to sneak past her defenses. I loved watching them grow closer and support each other through the labors.

I also particularly enjoyed the dynamic between Gen, Pollux, and Bale. None of their personalities seemed compatible with the other, and it made for some light and funny moments scattered throughout an otherwise more serious plot. Fingers crossed we get more of these three in the next book!

The way this story ended was a bit of a shock, but it made perfect sense, and I am so excited to see where this story is headed!

Game of Strength and Storm expertly combines a compelling and dynamic plot, captivating characterization, and excellent worldbuilding to create a stunning story that I know I won’t be forgetting any time soon. Not a single moment of this book felt like it dragged or was unnecessarily long. Instead, I was constantly engaged and eagerly awaiting the next labor.

For those who love YA Fantasy, Greek Mythology, or fully fleshed out characters and relationships, I would highly recommend Game of Strength and Storm!

Give me a book about competitions? Give me a book that includes royalty? Give me a book with a strong heroine? I’M HOOKED!

I adore Hercules and when I saw this was a gender-bent retelling of the twelve labours, I knew I had to read it. This novel has two incredibly strong female leads, who I couldn’t help but root for.

Gen is a MindWorker, she can control animals with a bit of hair, blood, or saliva. MindWorkers never use this power on humans, but a few years ago her father was imprisoned for causing a group of men to murder each other. Gen’s life from that moment changed drastically. She went from being a revered member of a popular circus to having people look at her strangely and in fear. Gen enters the lottery in the hopes to have her father freed from prison and returned to her.

Castor is the daughter of the Duke of Arcadia, but due to their country’s traditions, despite being the eldest, her brother, Pollux, has been named heir. Castor has decided to enter the Empresses lottery to have this doctrine changed so she can be named heir, as she believes Pollux will ruin the country.

‘You have as much power as she does, all you have to do is use it.’

Once at the lottery, the Empresses say they will free Gen’s father if she completes all the other wishes that came before her. Castor is also dragged into this, with a twist. Completing the tasks will be a competition, whoever wins will have their wish granted, and the other will not.

‘Just because it’s always been done that way, doesn’t make it a good decision.’

I loved these two characters, but there was definitely more of a focus on Gen, despite Castor having her own pov. I think this was because Pollux also had his own pov. There was a little romance in this book, and you all know how much I love a good romance! Pollux is a massive simp haha, he has been obsessed with the circus since he first saw it and has had a big crush on Gen ever since! I loved that he became part of the story and wasn’t just an innocent bystander. I think he helped add depth to both characters, especially Castor as he provided a different perspective of her.

‘He likes you. He is doing all of this for you. Not Castor. Can’t you see that?’

The worldbuilding was occasionally lacking, and I’m not 100% sure about all the different countries, but nevertheless this was still a gripping story. I loved each trial and was rooting for both the girls the whole time. I won’t lie I did think this was a sapphic romance between Gen and Castor because of that gorgeous cover, but it is not! Do not get tricked like me! There is the beginning of a sapphic romance in this however, that I think will grow throughout the sequel!

This was a fun retelling and I loved the characters! If you enjoy mythology retellings and bad-ass female characters, you will definitely like this one!

Once I picked up this book, I had a hard time putting it down. The character-building and scene setting was fantastic as a Mindworker & a Stormchaser go on the same quest separately, pitted against each other to see who can finish more tasks. There is bad blood between the two, clashing personalities, and even some betrayal. I enjoyed reading this book & look forward to what happens next for Gen, Castor, and the other characters who are being brought along for the ride!

“You will prove yourself by granting their requests”

This sets up the whole plot as Gen is challenged by the Empresses to fulfill all the requests given to them in order to have her father released (her request) It was at this point, Gen felt out of her depth, but knew that she would do ANYTHING to get her father back.

“‘ I knew you’d do it,’ Castor choked. ‘You’re a murderer, exactly like him’”

Gen has spent a long time in exile, moving from place to place because of the rumors (and conviction) surrounding her father’s involvement in a mass murder of Gargareans in which she knows with all her being that his is not capable of committing such an act. She lives with being shamed & whispered about anywhere she goes. To hear this, lights something inside her because she is nothing like a murderer and neither is her father.

“‘I’m so used to assuming everyone despised me. I couldn’t see anything else’”

Without spoiling a little of the plot, Gen finds a potential love interest. Trust is a hard thing for her to give, but it is rightfully earned. She opens herself up to the possibility of love and having some to support her, when she has been alone for so long.

3/5 ⭐️S

A great twist on a classic myth! I loved how Rachel gender-bent Hercules’ story here and made it a competition. It took a somewhat redundant myth and gave it a new twist!

Gen and Castor were such opposite characters. It was interesting to see how their differing personalities clash. I did wish we’d gotten more character development, especially from Castor. But that’s what sequels are for, I guess!

I loved this amazing dystopian book. The characters are just bad ass! I was hooked from beginning to end. It kind of had a Greek Hunger Games type vibe and I was there for it in every way!!
There were some surprising moments, some great twists! I can’t wait to read more!

I seem to be in the minority here as the book has great early ratings, but I didn’t love it. It’s solid enough for YA but took me almost three weeks to finish because I honestly was not interested and had trouble with the repetitive inner monologue.

The concept was interesting and there was plenty of action interspersed throughout, but overall as an adult reader I just wasn’t as engaged as I think a teen would be. I also like the theme of family loyalty which is explored in different ways.

Character wise- I can’t deal with inner monologue that never changes. Pollux said the same thing over and over and so did Castor who had no character growth at all. It’s hard for me to read multiple points of view when the characters just keep repeating themselves. The main character, Gen, didn’t really change much either except to open her barriers to a proximity romance and gain slightly more awareness of the way the empire works. I liked the magic, abilities, and attitude of the characters, although the most enjoyable part for me was the animals

What do you think it would be like to ride in a whale’s mouth? A monkey with 100 eyes? Flesh eating mares?

Gen’s ability to communicate with different creatures was the high point for sure

Plot wise I wanted a little more from some of the tasks. Overall it was fairly fast paced but I found myself skimming over a lot of repetitive introspection. The final battle’s ending struck me as a bit silly and I thought the book would be a standalone. I can’t see myself reading the sequel.

I like that the content and language was appropriately clean for YA. There were a few kisses between m/f and briefly w/w but otherwise the content was extremely low. One of my favorite things about the Flux imprint is that they tend to keep things on the tame side!

I would recommend for YA 100% and accordingly went with my three star, aka neutral rating

Thank you to Flux City Books and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

What a fun retelling of Herakles' labors. I want the next one immediately.

This is a YA Fantasy that retells the labors of Hercules/Herakles. However, we follow two young girls. Gen is trying to free her father from wrongful imprisonment. But she is a MindWorker and everyone thinks she can completely control people and that her father murdered a bunch of people in a cold rage with his powers. Meanwhile, Castor wants to become Empress of her island. Her family has ruled for generations but because of an outdated and misogynistic document, Castor will be completely looked over in favor of her brother, Pollux. Castor actually wants to rule the island and help her people, while Pollux only wants to play his instruments. Both girls can get what they want from the Empresses, but they make them compete for it. The two girls have ten tasks to split between them and each needs six to win. As the girls set out, Gen is approached by Pollux who offers his assistance. While she is hesitant to accept, the two work out an alliance.

I really enjoyed this story! I am a huge fan of mythology and any sort of mythological retelling so I had a feeling I would love this one. Gen was my favorite of the two girls. She was just so soft and has had so much crap happen to her. I wanted to finally see her reunite with her father after all this time. Gen mainly uses her MindWorker powers on animals and I loved the bonds she had with them. She abhors animals being kept in captivity and even does her best to free several from an awful trader.

Castor was a bit harder to root for. Her cause was certainly noble. Misogyny is the worst and when this book started I was rooting for her to win. But as the book progresses, we see mainly cruelty for her. We also get to know more about Pollux and he was a literal cinnamon roll. I came to like him a lot. I was so conflicted and unsure about who to root for. When the book ended, I was certain about who won, but the Empresses had other plans. We get little hints about something bigger brewing and I cannot wait to see what will happen. So excited for the sequel.

Castor does also express romantic interest in another female character. It was a very small interaction, but I am here for queer representation always. Maybe Castor's story is one of women's wrongs??

Rep: BIPOC Mazon cishet female MC, white Arcadian sapphic cis female MC, white Arcadian cishet male MC, sapphic cis female side character, Greek side characters.

CWs: Violence, animal death, injury/injury detail, emotional abuse, blood, excrement, misogyny, sexism. Moderate: forced institutionalization, animal cruelty, confinement, toxic relationship (siblings), alcohol consumption, death, past death of parent, fire/fire injury (lightning), gaslighting, kidnapping of side character (not by MCs), murder, death by drowning, slavery, vomit.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Game of Strength and Storm

Author: Rachel Menard

Book Series: The Labors of Gen Book 1

Rating: 4.5/5

Diversity: POC MC, Queer MC, Queer character

Recommended For...: young adult readers, LGBT, fantasy, retelling, Hercules, Greek Mythology

Publication Date: June 7, 2022

Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling

Age Relevance: 13+ (Gore, Violence, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Forced imprisonment, Alcohol consumption, Parental Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Death, Slavery, Romance)

Explanation of Above: There is some gore and violence in this book, including vomit and blood, and murder and death as well. There is animal death and some animal cruelty mentioned and shown in the book. Some emotional abuse is shown in the book and there is sexism as well. There are scenes of forced imprisonment, kidnapping, and slavery. There is some alcohol consumption. There is parental death mentioned. There is also some light romance.

Publisher: Flux Books

Pages: 394

Synopsis: Victory is the only option.

Once a year, the Olympian Empresses grant the wishes of ten people selected by a lottery—for a price. Seventeen-year-old Gen, a former circus performer, wants the freedom of her father, who was sentenced to life in prison for murders she knows he didn’t commit. Castor plans to carry the island Arcadia into the future in place of her brother, Pollux, but only after the Empresses force a change in her island’s archaic laws that requires a male heir.

To get what they want, Gen and Castor must race to complete the better half of ten nearly impossible labors. They have to catch the fastest ship in the sea, slay the immortal Hydra, defeat a gangster called the Boar, and capture the flesh-eating Mares, among other deadly tasks.

Gen has her magic, her ability to speak to animals, her inhuman strength—and the help of Pollux, who’s been secretly pining for her for years. But Castor has her own gifts: the power of the storms, along with endless coin. Only one can win. The other walks away with nothing—if she walks away at all.

Review: For the most part I liked the book. I thought it was an interesting gender-bent Hercules tale and I actually loved that the author went with the 12 Labors story cause that one is rarely told from what I see of Hercules retellings. The book had great pacing and the plot immediately grabs your attention when you start the book. I thought the book had great character development and the world building was great as well.

However, the book is multi-POV and I didn’t think that the book did good enough to distinguish their voices as I got a little confused here and there. I also thought that the romance could have been a little bit better, but that’s just a personal preference.

Verdict: I liked it!

Besides being the end of the work week, today's a great day because it's my stop on the TBR and Beyond Tours Game of Strength and Storm tour! Make sure y'all go check out all of the other stops on the tour!
Game of Strength and Storm 4/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads:
Victory is the only option.
Once a year, the Olympian Empresses grant the wishes of ten people selected by a lottery—for a price. Seventeen-year-old Gen, a former circus performer, wants the freedom of her father, who was sentenced to life in prison for murders she knows he didn’t commit. Castor plans to carry the island Arcadia into the future in place of her brother, Pollux, but only after the Empresses force a change in her island’s archaic laws that requires a male heir.
To get what they want, Gen and Castor must race to complete the better half of ten nearly impossible labors. They have to catch the fastest ship in the sea, slay the immortal Hydra, defeat a gangster called the Boar, and capture the flesh-eating Mares, among other deadly tasks.
Gen has her magic, her ability to speak to animals, her inhuman strength—and the help of Pollux, who’s been secretly pining for her for years. But Castor has her own gifts: the power of the storms, along with endless coin. Only one can win. The other walks away with nothing—if she walks away at all.
Man y'all, this was such a fun genderbent version of a Hercules retelling! I loved all of the tasks that Gen and Castor had to do and I loved the competition aspect of it. Gen was such a fun character and I definitely liked her chapters more than I liked Castor's chapters, but Castor was for sure strong willed and it was super understandable why she was doing everything she was. I wasn't a huge fan of Pollux (he was kind of lame), but in an ideal world, him and Castor would have balanced each other out really well as two sides of a coin. In general, this book was a really fun read that I was able to get through pretty quickly. There was never a point when I was bored or felt like things were moving too fast. And I love the way that the book ended, leaving things open for another book. Overall, I highly recommend this book and I think y'all should definitely go out and grab it today!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC!

I was given a Heracles retelling and saw two pretty women on the cover and really thought this would be sapphic -

Spoiler: it’s not.

Seriously, how can you make a Greek mythology retelling and NOT make it gay? How does this work? I feel wronged. (disclaimer: this is a joke and I’m neither accusing the author of anything nor trying to say anything seriously)

The plot of this book followed Genevieve, a half-Mazon MindWorker whose father was wrongfully accused of a massacre, and Castor, a powerful StormWorker who wanted to take the throne of her family’s island. After winning the lottery of the Empresses of Olympia, they were promised their boons - if they could defeat each other in a tournament of twelve labors.

I have actually never seen a Heracles retelling, especially not a wildly genderbent one like this, and let me tell you it was a ride. Things kept happening that were just so creative and weird that it was hard to keep up with the story.

The world-building was insanely clever, with all the different kinds of creatures and the Greek mythology elements being warped so specifically into all these crazy…things. It was shockingly easy to understand while still being complex and chaotic in a really cool, immersive way.

The different kinds of people and islands were meshed together so well with Ancient Greece and imagination that I both understood it perfectly and had no idea what was going on, which was pretty perfect for my intelligence level.

The characters were pretty mixed for me. I didn’t really feel that connected to anyone, though I could appreciate them. I just didn’t really…care?

Gen was really interesting. At the beginning, I thought I would find her pretty annoying, but as time went on, I started really empathizing with her and paying more attention to her perspectives. Her character had this motivation and intensity that made her compelling, if not relatable.

She felt like a bit of a basic rough-and-tumble, I-don’t-want-my-past protagonist, but she pulled it off pretty well. The way she was written felt like the author cared more about her than anyone else, and it came across in how I read her. Which would have been unfair if she hadn’t also been the only character I cared about.

Castor was actually just…no. Honey, no.

I had such high hopes for her because I am absolute trash for badass noble ladies with superpowers and ambitions who refuse to let men stand in their way. I live for these women and I will die for them. Go queens, get your thrones and roast your enemies.

But Castor? I would willingly kill her.

This bitch thought every single problem she encountered could be solved with lightning or money. She was so spoiled and cold. And while I have loved that kind of woman before, they were the kind who had actual emotions and goals and opinions.

Castor was just all “I can’t let my idiot brother get the throne because it would be bad for business” (guess what bitch, so is killing everyone who breathes wrong) and “I can’t lose, I never lose” (oh my God you never lose because you’re so HaRdWoRkInG and CuNnInG) and “I will roast that half-breed bitch” (first of all, racist much? Also are you so bad at competing that your answer is to kill the competition?)

She actually fried every single person who stood in her way, thought that declaring herself the Lady of Storms would magically convince everyone to bow to her will, and thought nothing of risking the lives of everyone around her just because she thought it would be more convenient for her goals.

There’s ambition and there’s sadism.

And look, I can get behind sadism. Really, I can. But I won’t if the sadist has no opinions, no development and no personality other than condescension and the fact that she refuses to lose a competition. My disgust with her grew into boredom as her perspective became so, so repetitive and so…stupid. I just could not make myself care for her.

At first, she gave me very Azula vibes, and I was excited because I love Azula and I would willingly lay down my life for her. Then, as I kept going, I felt guilty for even comparing the perfection of Azula to…Castor.

Pollux honestly just felt really pathetic to me? He did so much for Gen’s sake and Gen’s sake only. His only personality and character arc was “I’ve been in love with this girl since I was fourteen and I want to help her now.”

It gave him some conflict, but not really enough for me to care about, because I didn’t care about his motivations enough. His crush on Gen was kind of all that held up his character and I didn’t want to read about that.

I think he was supposed to bring in a lot more emotion and tension and highlight the importance that Gen and Castor played, but I didn’t get that.

Strangely enough, I still liked this book even though I live for strong characterization. I think most of what saved it was the pacing. Things got off to a fast start and stayed constant through the book, and that kept me going through the whole thing.

Everything happened one thing after another, and that just carried me from beginning to end. I had to be immersed in the plot because it was just so fast and unique that it was impossible to actually be bored.

Overall, this book was unique, kind of quirky, a little bit shabby but still a lot of fun and really immersive. It didn’t actually matter how seriously I took everything, because it was entertaining and exciting, and that was the main substance in my opinion.

I thought this was a very interesting gender bent retelling of Hercules and the 12 tasks. What was one of my biggest draws for this book was the women leads. I love me some badass heroines, give me two and I am a sucker for it. I also do really enjoy mythology and lore retellings so that was a big plus too!

Game of Strength and Storm follows two main characters, Gen and Castor. Gen a mindworker ( people who can control animals when the animal is given their hair, saliva or blood) who has spent the last 4 years ostracized because her father was accused of murder. She knows deep in her heart of hearts he did not do it. But since then she has been living on the out skirts of society with only her animal companion to keep her company. Gen seeks out the Empress to pardon her father for his accused murder.

Castor a storm maker (control of the weather) is has her eye on the throne of Arcadia, but as tradition goes the throne will go to the first born MALE heir, her brother Pollux. She knows her brother isn't meant for the throne and with that in mind also goes to the Empress to ask her to speak to her father, knowing only she may change her fathers mind.

This is where our two heroines meet. In the halls of the Empresses palace, both asking her a favor. The Empress will grant only one, but they must complete tasks first. Out of 10 tasks and who ever can do 6 before the other will have their favor fulfilled.

All together I thought this was a pretty good Young Adult debut novel. It had two strong diverse women leads, an interesting spin on an old legend and a interesting world building. I can't wait to see where book two takes these characters.


CWs:
Violence
animal death
emotional abuse
misogyny
sexism.
toxic relationship
alcohol
death

the short version of my review could simply be "this was so fun, i had the time of my life reading this book"

in this story, we follow both genevieve and castor as they enter an annual lottery in which people can request something from the empresses - for a price. castor wants to inherit rather than her twin brother and is angry at being passed over for being born a woman. genevieve wants her father out of prision, and to have their name restored after he was convicted of murder.

the book is a reimagining of the 12 labors of hercules/heracles, and it was such a great adaptation. i wanted to mention that first of all because the way the author adapted the greek mythology in this was so fun. it felt done in a way that someone who wasn't interested in mythology could still enjoy this, and obviously to anyone who likes mythology it's so fun to see both the references and how the labors were reworked to fit in the new world created.

the world was also very fun - i loved the magic systems and how balanced everything felt. the pace was also very fast and i couldn't stop turning the pages which also great if you are someone who enjoys fast paced books like me.

as far as characters go, i also wanted to mention how great castor is as a character. i haven't felt so much for a character i also disliked in... well, maybe ever. the way the author managed to make me feel bad for her despite every rational thought i had was nothing short of great. my thoughts are more complicated than that but i don't want to get into spoilers and also i do want to see how things progress in the next book, but at least in this one, castor was fascinating. gen was also a great character. she might be a bit more 'generic' in being the hero way, but she had some really great moments as well. and last but not least, pollux was a very nice surprise as a character. i also really loved how things changed depending on the perspective that things were being seen.

i think the one reason why i'm rating this four star rather than five is that it does rely a bit on the miscommunication trope for a particular part of the plot to happen and i'm not fond of that trope, personal preference there. that and the romance felt very very fast, while i didn't mind much because of how sweet it was and i was won over, it did bother me a bit at the end when i realized how little time had passed.

overall i just loved how things were adapted personally. i was also left with questions and curious at the end which i count as a good thing - if i finish a book and want more, want to know what happened next, that's a great thing. overall? just a really fun read.

Game of Strength and Storm is a unique take on Olympus’s Greek gods and political power struggles. It’s a Grecian novel unlike any I’ve read! I highly recommend this book to mythology lovers!

Told through three POVs, Game of Strength and Storm is such an exciting adventure and had me on the edge of my seat as Gen and Castor raced against each other in the annual lottery. This is a thrilling and magical YA fantasy!

I most closely relate Gen who is a combination of Diana (Wonder Woman) meets Dr. Doolittle. Yes, that is correct. The protagonist shares a special bond with animals to communicate telepathically. She can control animals with her mind and lift objects with a Herculean strength without breaking a sweat. If I could have any power, it would be hers. She’s a mix of the most beautiful talents, but sadly she feels alone and lost in the world as she seeks to save her father. She’s convinced that he could never have used his abilities to harm her mother and others. To save her imprisoned father and her family’s former reputation, she must compete in against Castor in a series of tasks given to her and Gen at the annual lottery held by the Olympian Empresses.
However, Castor is spoiled, power hungry, and motivated to change her island’s laws. She’s not interested in marrying a male for power. So, in the event she does not win, her brother Pollux will inherit the island and Castor will forever disgraced by her family. Castor and Gen must find a way to complete the tasks without being killed in the process. Castor has the deadly ability to manipulate the weather. She’s not afraid to use it on anyone that tries to get in her way. My heart hurt ached for Gen, but I was not too fond a Castor. She felt like a villain without being a villain. I felt the dialogue among the characters was a bit surface level. Introspectively, the characters’ thoughts and feelings were more complex and interesting than the dialogue.

Who will win complete the tasks first and win the lottery? Will Gen see her father again? Will Castor eradicate ancient laws and become the next heir?

Overall, the story is beautifully written, and the journey is amazing! I’m so excited for the next book in this series. I look forward to seeing how the characters develop and how the relationships progress in book two.

Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours, North Star Editions, Flux and Netgalley for providing a copy for review.

Thank you to the author Rachel Menard for the free e-arc of Game of Strength and Storm in exchange for an honest review!

plot: 5/5
pacing: 5/5
characters: 5/5
writing: 5/5
enjoyment: 5/5

final rating: 5/5 stars

Game of Strength and Storm is a retelling of Hercules' 12 labors, and this book follows two girls (Castor and Genevieve) as they race to be the first to complete the majority of 10 different tasks before the other. Each are in the race to win something they desperately want, Gen wants to free her father from his wrongful imprisonment and Castor wants to take the throne from her brother.

This book was full of twists and turns and had everything I could possibly need in a book. The tasks and mission to complete the labors was the main focus but the slow build of a romance subplot was also written beautifully. Bale is already my favorite character, his commentary and personality was such a great addition to the book. Gen, Pollux, and Bale are by far one of my favorite trio's and I'm really hoping to see them again in a possible sequel.

One of my favorite things in books has to be plot twists, and this book did not disappoint! The ending was so unpredictable and I ended up really loving the way the author ended this book. Menard's writing style is truly magical and I fell in love with Gen from the start and found myself really growing to like Pollux and Bale as well. As for Castor, I enjoyed her character at the beginning and I admire her ruthlessness but she began to go too far. Towards the end, I did not like her character as much as I did others.

If you're a fan of Greek Mythology, adventure, retellings, and you're in search for a book that will hook you from the beginning, Game of Strength and Storm is definitely the one for you. This has become one of my top reads of the year and I am so excited for what the author comes out with next!

It's been a while since a book left me breathless. I was only unsure about it in the first chapter, how it would handle the mythology and all that, but it just kept getting better and better and it became one of my new favourite books.

The book is told through three PoVs, Gen, Castor and her brother Pollux.

Gen is the best, I love her so so much and I want to hug her and all her animal friends too. She's a character I can relate to fully and I can't wait to see her shine even brighter in the next book.

Castor, on the other hand, I hated. I think she might appeal to me more in the sequel, but in this one she was just horrible. Anyone who hurts animals (whether directly or indirectly) to meet their goals is not a good person, sorry.

I was worried she'd be the love interest, BUT LUCKILY, THANK THE HYDRA, she isn't. Well, at least not for Gen, but she does have her own possible love interest on the side. We didn't get to see much of her, but I think they'd be a good match.

And Pollux, it's hard to find a better character than him. Not just in the book, but in general. He's the sweetest bean, the best noodle, the cutest cinnamon roll. AND HE PLAYS THE VIOLIN! And, he's written compositions about Gen. If you're looking for the "boy obsessed" or "boy falls first" trope HERE IT IS. AND IT'S ADORABLE!!!

Game of Strength and Storm is also an action filled book. Something is always happening, but it doesn't feel crushed together or like too many things are going on. Each task is given enough time and described in detail (even the manure, blehhh) so you feel like you're really there with the characters.

The magic system is unique, and I'm excited to learn about all the branches. But what I'm most excited about is the circus. I'm dying to see it, I NEED IT RIGHT NOW. Because from the memory snippets we've seen it's amazing.

P. S. Expect a lot of pain from this book. You have been warned.

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

This is a fantastic queer mythological retelling.

With multiple narratives, strong female characters and fantastic magic and adventure, this book kept me completely enthralled.

This is a fast paced read with great characters, monstrous beasts, an engaging story and the perfect amount of intensity.

This was incredible!

ringrazio netgalley per avermi offerto la possibilità di recensire questi libro in anteprima.
Mi è piaciuto, lo consiglio.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the story. You get 3 different perspectives each different and commanding in their own way. I honestly did not know who to root for in this competition. There are a lot of doors left open that I hope will be explained or revealed in the next book.
I did find the world building a bit confusing in the beginning as it takes many myths and puts a spin on them. One of the main character is part Mazon which is an Amazon. It was both a mix of Greek gods and myths. I think the book could benefit from a guide which explains the different islands and powers like mindwalkers or stormakers. As well as the different characters and tasks. Which may help the readers to understand more throughly.

But overall I really enjoyed the story and can’t wait for the next book!!

An olympian fantasy? Yes, please! Gen and Castor each have their reasons for entering the lottery. But when they’re pitted against each other, things heat up, and lives, present and future, are at stake. The blurb promises an adventure, and it wasn’t wrong.

Told in alternating viewpoints, I would cheer on Gen, her persistence and strength, and then when we switched to Cas, even when her actions were extreme and cringey, I wanted to see her succeed. Menard wrote strong characters who, while on opposite sides, had good reasons for what they were doing. The addition of Pollux to Gen’s team added a whole new level.

This is such a fun read. I love the depth of the world, the magic, and the characters. Each new task brought new talents, magical creatures, mythology, and lore. Game of Strength and Storm is well-researched with a fun twist that added tense and kind moments throughout. Overall, this is an addicting, fast-paced adventure with a bit of romance. I can’t wait to see where Menard takes this series.