What an awesome book! Here's my blurb:

"Game of Strength and Storm is fantasy adventure on a grand scale, with exhilarating spins on myths and classic tropes. Menard's creative world-building, animal companions, and eccentric cast make this book a heck of a lot of fun."

In all honesty, I wanted to love this book. Part of me maybe did. I’m not saying I hated it, not at all. I just have been massively disappointed in certain parts.
The plot is good, it’s basically a retelling of the twelve labours of Hercules but laid out as a contest between the two main characters, Gen and Castor. While it is obvious that it’s Greek mythology-inspired, there’s also an effort in making this world new to the reader. However, if you call someone “StormMaker” but they can only capture storms and not actually create them… yeah, that’s disappointing.
Something that threw me a bit was how it was supposed to be a YA, but it really felt more like a middle-grade novel. It picked up in some points, especially toward the end, but it still didn’t give me that spark of YA.
Besides, throughout the entire book, I’ve always felt as if every character was meant to be “ugly”. For example, Lux is downplayed a lot, as well as described as ugly, and apart from certain characteristics, there’s a lack of physical description when it comes to Gen and Castor. It just felt a bit weird. For example, Chomp. It’s said he’s a chaeri and he’s got purple fur and sharp teeth. Is he a dog of sorts? Overall, it just lacked attention to detail, in my opinion.
Moving on to the characters, I can easily say Lux surpassed both Gen and Castor. Well, not quite, because I very much enjoyed reading about Gen, even if her prejudice and mistrust went on for too long.
There’s a huge difference between Genevieve and Castor, one that makes you realize who’s the hero and who’s the villain. I don’t think the villain can be described as “morally grey”, because her actions are just evil, without a hint of remorse until it’s too late, and not even then.
And yes, I’m talking about Castor. I loathed her, but I won’t spoil why. Her reasoning and her character just made me want to strangle her. That’s all I can say without giving the story away. I do get her reasons, I truly do, I even agree with them, but not her methods. Usually, I come to love a villain if they have a good reason behind their actions, but that’s not enough: I need growth, I need to understand them. With Cas, I couldn’t connect with her. At first, I thought I could, but that didn’t happen. Oh, and she’s childish as hell, blaming everyone if her life is sh*t and her plans don’t succeed? No, thank you.
On the other hand, you see the struggle within Gen, the way she always thinks of a solution that doesn’t involve killing or ruining someone’s life, and even when her actions lead just to that, you can see her remorse. This contest led her to choose between life and death many times, and even if driven by her greatest desire, reuniting with the only family she’s left, none of the choices she made was taken lightly.
Which is why I was hugely disappointed in the ending. I admit I thought this book was a standalone, I was so ready for it to be over, even if part of my brain kept saying: “remember, the labours were twelve, not ten!”. I should have listened to my brain. However, I wouldn’t have minded hadn’t the book ended the way it did. It pissed me off, and you can very well understand why, but I won’t be spoiling anything.
What’s even more unreal, is that, despite all of this, I want to read the sequel!
(Oh, and Lux was the real MVP alongside Bale. The romance might not have been the best-developed one, especially on Gen’s side, but I still liked it enough.)

—

In tutta onestà, volevo che questo libro mi piacesse di più. Non sto dicendo che l’ho odiato, nient’affatto. Sono stata semplicemente delusa in alcune parti.
La trama è buona, è praticamente un retelling delle dodici fatiche di Hercules ma organizzato come una gara tra le due protagoniste, Gen e Castor. Sebbene sia ovvio che il libro sia basato sulla mitologia greca, è stato fatto anche uno sforzo per rendere questo mondo nuovo per il lettore. Tuttavia, se chiami qualcuno “StormMaker” ma questi possono solamente catturare le tempeste e non crealre… eh, quello è deludente.
Una cosa che mi ha lasciata perplessa è come questo libro dovesse essere uno YA, ma in realtà sembra più di leggere un libro per ragazzini delle medie. Si riprende in certi punti, specialmente verso la fine, ma non mi ha comunque dato quella scintilla di YA.
Inoltre, leggendo il libro, ho sempre avuto l’impressione che ogni personaggio dovesse essere “brutto”. Per esempio, Lux viene molto sminuito, oltre che a essere descritto come brutto e, a parte alcune caratteristiche, anche per Gen e Castor manca una e vera e propria descrizione fisica. Mi è sembrato un po’ strano. Per esempio, Chomp. Viene detto che è un chaeri e ha la pelliccia viola e denti aguzzi. È un cane di qualche tipo? Complessivamente, mancava attenzione ai dettagli, secondo me.
Passando ai personaggi, posso facilemente dire che Lux abbia superato sia Gen che Castor. Beh, non proprio, perché mi è piaciuto molto parlare di Gen, sebbene il suo pregiudizio e la mancanza di fidiucia si siano protratti un po’ troppo.
C’è un’enorme differenza tra Genevieeve e Castor, una che ti fa capire chi è l’eroina e chi la cattiva. Non penso che la cattiva possa essere descritta come “moralmente grigia”, perché le sue azioni sono semplicemente cattive, senza alcun segno di rimorso finché non è troppo tardi, e nemmeno allora.
E sì, sto parlando di Castor. L’ho odiata, ma non dirò perché. Il suo ragionamento e personaggio mi hanno solo fatto venir voglia di strangolarla. Questo è tutto ciò che posso dire senza spoilerare la storia. Capisco i suoi motivi, davvero, e sono anche d’accordo, ma non sono d’accordo coi suoi metodi. Di solito, amo un cattivo se ha dei buoni motivi per fare quello che fa, ma no è abbastanza: ho bisogno di crescita, di capirli. Con Cas, invece, non sono riuscita a connettere. All’inizio, pensavo di poterlo fare, ma non è successo. Oh, ed è infantile all’ennesima potenza, incolpando tutti se la sua vita è una m*rda e i suoi piani non succedono? No, grazie.
Dall’altra parte, vedete il dibattito interno di Gen, il modo in cui cerca una soluzione che non includa uccidre o rovinare la vita di qualcuno, anche quando le sue azioni portano proprio a quello, potete vedere il suo rimorso. Ma la gara l’ha costretta a scegliere tra la vita e la morte molte volte, e sebbene sia guidata dal suo più grande desiderio, quello di riunirsi con l’unica famiglia che le sia rimasta, nessuna delle scelte che fa è presa alla leggera.
Ecco perché sono stata estremamente delusa dal finale. Ammetto che pensavo questo libro fosse uno standalone, ero così pronta a finirlo, sebbene parte del mio cervello continuasse a dire: “ricorda, le fatiche erano dodici, non dieci!”. Avrei dovuto ascoltare il mio cervello. Comunque, la promessa di un sequel non mi sarebbe dispiaciuta se il libro non fosse finito a quel modo. Mi ha fatto incazzare, e potete ben capire perché, ma non farò spoiler di nulla.
Ciò che è ancor più irreale è che, nonostante tutto, voglio comunque leggere il sequel!
(Oh, e Lux è stato il vero MVP insieme a Bale. La parte romantica può non essere stata ben sviluppata, specialmente da parte di Gen, ma mi è comunque piaciuta abbastanza.)

Game of Strength and Storm is a brilliant reimagining of Greek mythology, transferring the mythological tales into a sprawling fantasy world where characters and creatures of legend inhabit islands. Every aspect of the world-building is shaped from Greek mythology, right down to the landscapes and fauna. As someone who has always been drawn to mythology, and Greek in particular, I fell in love with the world Menard created very quickly.

Her characters are just as likeable, with Gen the half Mazon (Menard’s version of Amazons) placed in the role of hero, and Castor in the role of anti-hero. Both have a unique set of abilities, and when they both use their lottery wish to ask the Empresses for something life changing the Empresses are eager to get something out of the deal. The thought of placing the two young women up against each other in a test is too good to resist. Gen and Cas find themselves with a choice; walk away with nothing or complete the impossible list of tasks that the other lottery winners have requested from the Empresses. And for good measure the Empresses have thrown in a few others, such as kill the hydra.

If this is sounding a bit familiar, it should. Game of Strength and Storm is a genderbent retelling of the labours of Hercules. The tasks that Gen and Cas have to complete are pulled straight from the myth, however, that’s where the similarity ends. This is a whole new story and while there are some similarities between Hercules and Gen’s story (mass murder and a link to family appear in both), they are very different otherwise. The story of what happened with Gen’s family is heartbreaking, and the history that Menard has woven for the Mazon’s is hauntingly beautiful.

Likewise, Cas’ story cuts just as deep. I called her the anti-hero of this story and circumstances beyond her control have forced her into that role. She’s a headstrong woman in the last patriarchal hold out, the only Island where succession goes to the next male heir and female offspring are pawns to be married off for influential and political gains. Despite spending years trying to prove to her father that she’s the woman for the job, her father refuses to budge and still only sees her for her gender. Cas is also attracted to women rather than men, so her island’s archaic laws will trap her in a loveless marriage no matter who the match is with.

As you can imagine, Cas’s father is not going to be best pleased when he finds out what Cas is trying to do, so it’s not just her freedom and future that is on the line. She’s on a clock to outrun her father’s fury and his goons, and she’s got the money, influence and storm powers to do it. No one is getting in her way. Enter Pollux, aka Lux, her twin and this is where things get very interesting. Normally at this point in the story it’s obvious where this is going to go; sibling rivalry. It was refreshing to have a sibling actually care about the other and meddling to prevent their sibling winning for wholesome reasons.

Lux doesn’t care about being in charge of their family’s powerful company, he doesn’t want to inherit. He just wants to be left alone to do his own thing which is completely different to what his father and sister believe that their ability to capture and bottle storms should be. The family has been selling the weather to the highest bidder for three generations now, including weaponising it, and Lux has found his own unique way of using their abilities which they do not recognise. Both of them have written him off entirely, however, he’s the male heir and tradition dictates that he will inherit. He would much rather have nothing to do with it, however, Lux sees it as the only way to undo the mistakes and tragedies that his family have had a hand in. That’s if he can stop Cas from winning, but before that he has to save her from their father’s wrath.

The fact that it allows him to help Gen, the famous circus performer he fell in love with long ago, is of course, just a bonus 😉

A Game of Strength and Storm is a complicated mix of romance (both heterosexual and sapphic), and is about letting go of the past and learning to trust again. Both romances are very different from each other, with one being a very slow burn and sweet. It made me feel quite nostalgic as it was reminiscent of that teen crush feeling. It’s that they do love me, they don’t love me, picking petals off a flower feeling. The person you’ve watched across the room in classes for years who finally realises you exist and starts to talk to you. Then the other one is love/passion at first sight, you know they’re the one for you as soon as you meet them. They’re cheeky, you flirt, nothing happens until it does, and those sparks you wondered if you imagined blow up in a big way. Both romances felt so genuine, which I often feel is missing from young adult novels.

There is so much packed into this book, it’s fast-paced, but it is well paced. The book is told from three perspectives; Gen, Castor and Pollux. It has a wonderful mix of secondary characters who have great backstories of their own. Most of these are creatures, who through Gen’s abilities are able to talk to her and the way Menard has brought their communication and personalities to life is fantastic. It brings such a fun element to a novel that deals with so many serious themes.

*Note I have received a free digital copy of this book for a honest review and it will not change my thoughts or feelings towards the text*

What do I say about this book? It was a AMAZING time to read this and go on this journey with Gen and Cas! When I say I fell in love for this world within in the first 10 pages im not lying. The world building and the fleshed out magic really helps you easily immersive into the story. The CHARACTERS were a blast and were one of the many things I loved in this story. Gen's character is such a lovable character and is super easy to root for. The plot of the book I fell in love easily. I loved the challenges the characters had to over come and how creative their problem solving was. Even the supporting/ensemble characters and animal friends were amazing to spend time with when we got the chance. The pacing felt amazing it never felt like we were rushing any important scenes and never felt like we spent to much time doing nothing. The ending was a massive shock and has me wanting a sequel. Overall an amazing read and is perfect 5/5 stars!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Game of Strength and Storm caught my eye due to the cover, and my interest only grew thanks to the premise. Hercules is one of the Greek myths I’m slightly more familiar with, and I loved the concept of gender bending the story and taking it in a new direction, with it being a high-stakes, high-reward competition.
I liked the way the labors were reimagined, paying homage to the original ones while making them feel fresh. The world itself also has a Greek feel to it, while also being distinct from it.
The characters and their individual strengths and vulnerabilities are easy to become invested in. Gen in particular was easy to root for, because of her love for her father and willingness to do what she can to secure his freedom. But Castor is also compelling in her ambition to rule Arcadia, especially in the wake of shifting political structures away from those that favor men. She’s not always going to be the most likable, but I appreciate someone who really goes after what she wants. And Pollux fits in perfectly between them, as a sibling to Castor and secret being in love with Gen. It’s also fascinating to examine his sweet nature, and how it’s just as much a product of the environment he grew up in as Castor’s is, and how siblings raised in similar circumstances don’t always end up the same way, especially taking into account the gender dynamics.
I believe this is just the first book of a series, so there’s likely more to come, both in terms of character and plot. I’m curious about what will happen next. If you enjoy Greek mythology inspired fiction, I recommend keeping an eye out for this one.

A fantastic story with wonderful world building. There is intrigue and magic and so much more.

The author does well in developing a strong story and helps to find a connection with the characters. Overall, this book is perfect for anyone that would like a sweet and simple read that gets you out of a reading slump.

loved this story and will be recommending it to our teen fiction selectors for purchase. engaging plot and messy characters always a plus

This was such a fun book to read! Game of Strength and Storm is a gender swapped Hercules retelling, and I really enjoyed getting to see the characters (mostly Gen) working towards completing the tasks. This book was told through 3 POVs, Gen and Castor (the two who were competing for the opportunity for a wish to be granted) and Pollux (Castor's brother, intent on helping his sister by trying to have Gen win), and I really liked that we got all of the POVs but I honestly never wanted to read Castor's POV - I think her character worked well in the story, but I just hated her because she was very cruel and selfish, and I never really saw any growth from that - it was either her way or nothing, and that didn't change. Gen's chapters were my favorite, and I loved how she was so strong but also compassionate. I do wish that we got a little bit more with the tasks they had to complete. I understand that between 3 POVs and 10 tasks, there can only be so much dedicated to each, but some of them just felt too easy, even though they constantly went on about how hard everything was, so I think I would have liked to see a little more there, but overall, I really did enjoy this and recommend it, especially to fans of Greek mythology!

A really fun, adventurous, magical, gender bent retelling of Hercules.
I thoroughly enjoyed the world building/plot and most of the characters. I was anticipating with the tag as LGBTQ for certain characters to fall for each other but what happens romantically was great. The setup for the next book has me very impatient for the next book.

Thanks to Netgalley, North Star editions and flux for an earc of this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Well shit.. that was an interesting ride. I had so much fun reading this. Once I started reading it I was hooked instantly. I ended up reading the entire thing in two sittings. It's incredibly fast paced and such a quick read, especially for how long the book is.

GAME OF STRENGTH AND STORM is told in multiple perspectives. We hear from Gen, Castor and Pullox, however Gen's perspective is what we read about the most. I would say Gen is portrayed in a more favorable light than Castor and along with being the main POV it makes her easier to cheer for even though Castor is hard not to like as well.

Judging by how things ended I'm guessing and hoping there is a sequel in the works and I'm going to need it asap. As the story was wrapping up I was thinking about how I would have liked if things had of ended differently, then things happen and well, is there a place I can sign up for the next book yet??

I was given this book as an ARC - thank you to the author and netgalley. I liked this novel - it was a great adaptation and good first novel for the author. It is fast paced and keeps you engaged in the story!

Game of Strength and Storm is about two young women who are pitted against each other to try and get what they want most in life. One the throne and the other her father out of prison and his name returned to greatness. After entering the lottery and getting their names selected, they are tasked an impossible mission where they must best the other in order to win, but the loser will get absolutely nothing.

The characters were diverse and well rounded. Each had great backstories and reasons to be where they were. I liked how different they were from each other, never making it difficult to understand who's pov we were in.

Along with the great characters was the amazing magical land. Between the four main different types of magic there were also people with other crazy abilities and so many wonderful lands we got to travel to and see.

Now, saying all of that, why was the book not a winner for me? Simple it was so rushed we never got to really appreciate any of those amazing things. Trials were accomplished so easily and moved through in a chapter. Nothing really slowed our heroines down or made things seem really hard for them. I found myself wrapped up in the monitany of a repeating loop of going to a new place, finding a person, oh no i don't trust them, task accomplished, and let's go to the next one! In my personal opinion with a little more thought into how things happened in the story this could have been a really interesting one.

While the story definitely read YA, I don't think it was to a fault. It felt like a book that was directed at younger audiences but didn't talk down to them. I think there were some tropes that happen in the YA genre that this book could have done without, but overall not a horrible addition.

I think you'd like this if you like ya magical fantasy around a trail that's not too complicated and don't mind repetition.

Thanks to Netgalley and North Star Editions for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an eARC in return for an honest review!

A book for Greek mythology enthusiasts who love creative retellings of the Greek mythologies we know and love.

Game of Strength and Storm by Rachel Menard is a YA genderbent retelling of the labors of Hercules except those labors are a race between two strong, iron-willed, quick-witted girls in which the winner gets to have favors met from the Empresses.

The story is told from three perspectives:
Gen, a MindWorker, a former circus performer seeking to release her wrongfully imprisoned father; Castor, a StormMaker, daughter of the Storm Duke who wishes to defy the outdated patriarchal Doctrine of her island so she can rule it; and Pollux, Castor’s brother, admirer of Gen, and heir to Arcadia.

Where I loved the book:
The dynamic of Castor and Pollux reminded me a lot of Azula and Zuko’s, if Azula was the one to be banished instead.
I’m not sure if this was the author’s intention, but I like how it highlighted that women seeking to abuse power aren’t any better than men who do EVEN if they’re affected by the patriarchy’s injustice.
I underestimated how cruel Castor could get, I’m glad the author didn’t hold back
Gen’s relationship with animals she communicates with and the specificity of the commands she delivers when they are in her control.

YA is still a genre I go back to from time to time even though it doesn’t intrigue me as much now that I’m in my 20s, so I definitely think that I would’ve enjoyed this book much more if I was younger, but it was a pleasant read nonetheless!

3.75 stars rounded up to 4

I'm obsessed. This was such a fun Hercules retelling, and the fact that it was gender-bent made it even more interesting to me. I loved the competition aspect of it and how our two characters are fighting for their goals. I felt that the characters were well written and even the side characters had personalities and dreams of their own.
If you're looking for a new YA Fantasy with Greek Mythology, a cinnamon-roll love interested, and heroines willing to do anything for what they want, this is the book for you!

Olympian Empresses grant the wishes of 10 people each year by picking them in a lottery-but they always want something in return. This year they have decided on a competition between two of the contestants.

Gen is a 17 year old MindWorker, meaning she can communicate and influence animals. As a former circus performer, she used her gifts alongside her parents. That was until her mother died and her father was accused of killing a group of people with his gift. Now her life is much different and she’s a social pariah. She wants to use her wish to free her father and restore their social status.

Castor is a StormMaker who can capture & control the power of the storms. She has all of the things that Gen wants, including social status and wealth. She wants to use her wish to control Arcadia. Because she’s a female, her brother Pollux will inherit the title. Her father says only males can rule but Castor wants to change that.

Pollux has a part to play too. He has been a fan of Gen for years and his relationship with his sister is complicated. Who will he help in this competition?

This is my first book by this author and I liked it. The ending is setup for a sequel so I can’t wait to see what’s next in the story.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love a contest and this one pits two very different females against monsters both human and not ! Although personally I think the real monsters in this story are the Empresses who fiendishly wield their power over those who are desperate. Gen just wants to get her father out of prison but her adversary Caster wants to rule a kingdom. Initially I had respect for Cas but as the story progressed she became a flawed, ruthless character. Gen is almost a female Hercules, an Amazon if you will but with the addition of the ability to communicate with animals and was very likeable. Cas has power over the weather and although her capacity for brutality and violence was off putting at times her dreams of equality rang true.
I wasn't immediately drawn in but as this progressed with its shades of Lewis Carroll and mythology I very much found myself eagerly turning the pages. There is a slight nod to romance but honestly it's more a quest to discover just who these characters are and what is really important in life.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review

I was super intrigued the moment I saw “gender-bent Hercules retelling”, and it did not disappoint! Though I had a hard time getting into the story at first, I really enjoyed it and the ending got me hooked! I’m just sad that we didn’t get to see much of Castor. I liked Pollux, but I would’ve wanted to see more of Castor’s POV instead of his. I’m really curious to see what will happen to this trio in book 2

4 Stars!

I would like to thank North Star Editions, Flux Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review of the material! :)

“But Gen’s kind of magic couldn’t be shared, and maybe that was why the people hated her for having it. Because they couldn’t.”

Being the mythology fanatic that I am, I was over the moon when I realized that this novel was a genderbent Hercules retelling (and it certainly didn’t disappoint)!! 🤩

I was enamored with the world that Rachel painted for us throughout “Game of Strength and Storm” — it was incredibly vivid, and I loved getting the opportunity to explore various islands (as well as their inhabitants)!

I also loved following two strong female protagonists, Gen and Castor, and seeing their dynamic throughout the novel!

(I also adored sweet Pollux. 🥹❤️)

I’m crossing my fingers & toes in hopes that we’ll receive a sequel because I need to know what happens next!! 🤞

As soon as I saw that this story was a gender-bent Hercules reimagining, I knew I needed to read the book! I love Greek mythology, retellings, and stories with strong female protagonists, and this ya fantasy offers a unique reimagining of Hercules tale and the Olympic Games. It’s an action-packed adventure with a strong cast of characters, cool magical creatures and powers, and vivid world-building.

Gen is such an interesting protagonist. Strong and determined, her main motivation is to rescue her father, who has been imprisoned for murder. She goes through a lot over the course of the story and is put through so many trials, but she never gives up on her desire to free her father. She is a compassionate and kind person with a deep love for family and animals. And her connection to the animals is fantastic. I love that she tries to find balance with these animals instead of using her powers and the animals to get what she wants. She has strong morals and shows deep respect for living things.

Castor, the other person vying for the Empress’s granted wish, wants to rule the patriarchal kingdom in which she lives. However, her brother is in line for the throne even though he is not well suited. Like Gen, Castor is strong and determined, but unlike Gen, she is also pretty ruthless when she needs to be. I found her story really interesting and wanted to learn more about this vicious and sometimes cruel character, and I wish there were more chapters from her perspective. Pollux is so different from his sister and favors art and music to power and control. I think he is often underestimated and considered weaker than his sister, but he is strong and determined in his own right.

I really like the powerful and relevant messages about equality and women’s rights that come up particularly in Castor’s journey. I always enjoy when books weave relevant and important issues into fiction, like the themes of equality, fighting for those you love, and more. There are some parts of the story that fell a bit flat for me, including the romance, which seemed a bit forced. Also, I found the world-building less developed than I hoped and the story hard to get into initially, but I’m glad I stuck it out because it ended up being a pretty action-packed and entertaining read.

Special thanks to Flux Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

I discovered my love of reading growing up in that dystopian/fantasy YA boom of the late ‘00s/early ‘10s, but the popular series that followed as I got older and started working myself out began to feel less and less like they were meant for me. I’ve wondered if maybe I just outgrew them early, or if the premises got less exciting to me somewhere along the line. Maybe it’s because - until more recently - I had to look elsewhere for books that I could see parts of myself in. There is something so special and rare about the occasions now where I read a book that can recapture the specific kind of magic and excitement I felt in the height of those days, and that is precisely what Game of Strength and Storm did for me.

I love Greek mythology and books with any kind of competition so this being described as a genderbent reimagining of the labours of Hercules with a fierce rivalry and race driving the action felt too perfect for words. If you think the blurb of this book sounds amazing enough, just know that it delivered on these promises and then some. I truly cannot remember the last time I was this excited while reading something. As in, ‘dropping my iPad on my chest to stare at the ceiling and kick my feet when things I hoped for happened’ excited. This was a fast paced and well crafted story with vivid settings, action that didn’t let up or sag in the middle, twists and reveals that kept me guessing right to the end and such clever and innovative magic systems. I won’t spoil anything regarding the latter, but I don’t know when I’ll ever stop thinking about that violin.

The characterisation in this book is so strong - even for characters we don’t meet - and I adored the two girls that are very much at the heart of this story. Gen’s consistent and distinct moral compass guides her through the most unimaginable difficulty in her young life, both personal and in the trials themselves. Her love of her family and her menagerie of animal companions is just endlessly endearing, and it’s wonderful to see her navigate the challenges as well as her own feelings, and grow in strength throughout. Wink. Both girls have such well thought out reasons for entering the lottery, but Gen’s backstory is so compelling and I loved all the time spent hearing her perspective. From reading other people’s reviews, I know not everybody liked Castor. So I have to say it. I loved her. I know she’s stubborn and ruthless and hurtful. I know she has a high opinion of herself. I know she’s dangerous and relentless. And I loved her. She’s unapologetically determined, has a very strong point of view, and under all the coldness and fierceness is just somebody that is really trying. Someone wanting so badly to be respected and noticed, even feared, if it comes to it. If their harsh home environment produced her soft and introverted brother, Pollux, that same environment hardened Castor. And with the patriarchal system she finds herself in, it is no wonder to me that she considered that hardness a necessity. It doesn’t excuse things, but it explains them. The moments when we got to see underneath - the moments of “why did I say/do that?” - were so humanising. And she also just so happened to like women. No one made a thing of it, but we got to hear what that felt like to her, and getting to see her encounter an equally clever girl was, of course, one of my highlights. I wanted even more of Castor than we got.

And I want more of this. This wonderfully crafted world and ensemble of characters I am aching to know more about. If I close my eyes really tight and wish hard enough, maybe we will be blessed with a sequel. In the meantime, I cannot recommend this book enough! Check it out for all the animals with big personalities, girls who can talk to them, music loving (absolute simp) boys, lightning-wielding morally grey twin sisters, tragic backstories, whispers in the ruins of ancient cities, impossible trials, and a thrilling race to win. Whatever the cost.