**Disclaimer: I was given a free ARC in exchange for an honest review from as part of a tour from TBR and Beyond Tours.**
Title Game of Strength and Storm
Author Rachel Menard
Genre Young Adult Fantasy
Release Date June 7, 2022
Description
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.
Initial Thoughts
I was super excited to be chosen for this tour. I love Greek Mythology and I love retellings so this book sounded right up my alley.
Some Things I Liked
Multiple POVs. I always love this feature. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with multiple POVs that I didn’t like. I just feel like it adds such a richness to the storytelling and this book was no exception.
Retelling elements. This book uses a lot of familiar characters and elements from Greek Mythology but in a unique and creative way and I loved that. I also loved the idea of the main myth being gender-bent.
Competition element. Again, this is another feature I almost always love. This story was filled with action and adventure and it allowed the story to feature so many elements of Greek Mythology that I loved reading about.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
The romance. This book isn’t labeled as a “fantasy romance” but I was hopeful for more romance than we got. I’d love to see it expanded upon in the next book.
Series Value
I’d definitely continue with this series. I loved the world and the characters.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book. I think if the romance had been a touch more prominent, it would have been a five star read but overall, this was a solid debut from an author that I’d love to read more from.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book Links
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