A review by eloquentmuse
The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owens is a romantic fantasy with a fresh twist on the Greek pantheon, though it also includes references to various other mythologies from around the world. The main character, Lyra, is a mortal thief—not particularly skilled, but resourceful. Due to her mother giving birth to her accidentally in Olympus, Zeus cursed Lyra to be “unlovable.” This curse becomes a central theme in the story.

Every so often, the Greek gods hold a Crucible, a series of trials where mortals represent them to determine the new king of the gods. This time, Hades, for the first time, chooses to participate—and he picks Lyra as his champion. The story explores how the gods view humanity, often showing them as petty and indifferent, yet hinting that some gods might actually care about human life or feel guilt, giving a nuanced portrayal of divinity.

I really enjoyed how the characters each had distinct personalities and complex relationships. Lyra’s journey is particularly compelling; her struggle with the curse of being “unlovable” raises questions about whether her isolation is truly from the curse or her own emotional walls. There are signs that people care for her in ways she doesn’t recognize, which adds depth to her character arc.

The book has a slow-burn romance, with only mild spice, and it ends on a cliffhanger. I found myself hooked, even setting aside another book to focus on this one. Overall, I’d rate it around 4 to 4.5 stars, and I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes in the next installment. Highly recommend for fans of romantic fantasy with mythological twists!
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