To Steal a Throne by Gabi Burton

“Her magic feeds on lies.

His magic could destroy her.

Mira Kyler runs the court of Virdei from the shadows. Ever since she helped her half-brother Luc cheat his way into the role of Virdei's leader, she's used her lie-powered magic to collect secrets from members of court, then used them as blackmail to keep her brother in power.

But when newcomer Kaidren Vale shows up and challenges Luc's leadership, he threatens the stability Mira has worked so hard for. Kaidren also has magic-magic that can detect the precise nature of someone else's power with a single touch. If Kaidren so much as brushes against her, everyone will discover that Mira is the one who's been manipulating the court for years.

As Kaidren and Luc compete in three deadly challenges called The Trials, Mira realizes that no matter who wins, she'll be stuck serving a mediocre man who doesn't deserve to be in charge. She's done hiding in the shadows. She wants power of her own.

To get it, she'll have to betray both her own brother and Kaidren-but the fiercer the competition gets, the more Mira realizes that the one boy who could destroy everything is the one boy she might not be able to resist.” - taken from Goodreads.

This book sucked me right in and didn’t let me go until the last page. Mira has always been overlooked by everyone because of her scandalous birth and second class citizenship. Except when it comes to her hidden magical talents that keep her brother as the leader of the realm. When an upstart newcomer decides to challenge her brother as leader, Mira decides that she no longer wants to be controlled by others. But soon feelings for Kaidren begin to get in her way. What happens at the ending will completely take the reader by surprise and will leave them waiting for more.

After that ending, there has to be a second book on the horizon.

Visit Gabi Burton’s website.

A Stage Set for Villains by Shannon J Spann

“The gods are dead. All that’s left are the Players…

The performers of the Playhouse are as worshipped as they are feared, their enchanting shows bending hearts, minds, and even reality itself. Vicious, godlike, lethal. Eighteen-year-old Riven Hesper knows the dangers better than anyone, after her own encounter with a Player resulted in a curse that is slowly killing her.

When the Playhouse announces the spectacle of a lifetime—a chance for one mortal to steal a Player’s immortality—Riven sees her last chance to live. Desperate for answers, she infiltrates the competition. There, she finds Jude, the Playhouse’s brilliant, merciless Lead Player, whose charm is as dangerous as his Craft, and strikes a deadly bargain to save her life.

But with time running out and the Playhouse’s secrets unraveling into a disturbing picture, Riven faces a grim possibility: she might not be the hero of her story after all. In fact, she may be the villain.

Because the Playhouse doesn’t just tell stories. It rewrites them.

And Riven’s might end in blood.” - taken from Goodreads.

This book has such a unique premise and format that worked together perfectly. With a plot line that revolves around actors and their theater, it was refreshing to see this book set up like a play itself with acts and scenes instead of chapters. The last half of the book really picked up the pace of the story leading to a shocking but satisfying ending.

Visit Shannon J Spann’s website.

The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi

“To find love is a curse ...

Prince Arris knows that marriage means murder. Thanks to a poorly worded wish to a sea witch, all one needs to rule the Isle of Malys is the heart and hand of the kingdom’s heir. Historically, this has been construed quite literally.

Thus, Arris expects that the day after his marriage and murder he will wake up as a sentient tree alongside the rest of his predecessors. His only chance at a long life is finding true and lasting love. When Arris's parents announce a tournament of brides to compete for his hand and heart, a slew of eligible, lovely and (possibly murderous) bachelorettes make their way to Rathe Castle. Amidst glittering balls in ozorald caves, strolls through menageries of daydream trees and pearl crocodiles, tea time on glass boats and kisses that leave his head spinning, Arris cannot tell who is here out of love for him…or lust for power.

Until he meets Demelza.

As a veritas swan, Demelza’s song wrings out the truth. Forced into hiding, Demelza strikes a deal. Arris will provide her with safekeeping in exchange for her truth-telling song to sort through his potential brides.

While Arris is used to dodging death threats and Demelza is accustomed to fighting for her voice to be heard, to survive the tournament of brides requires a different kind of bravery. And perhaps the bravest thing one can do is not merely protect one’s life, but find the courage to chase a life worth living.” - taken from Goodreads.

This story is best summed up as The Bachelor set in a fairy tale. Arris must marry but he hopes to avoid the fate of his grandfather and other descendants. He wishes to live a full first life before his second life, and when he becomes a tree. For Arris, marriage means murder at the hands of his wife. When Demelza unexpectedly shows up to the competition, she offers Arris her truth-seeking abilities as a veritas swan to keep him safe from a murderous bride. As the competition heats up, what happens when true love begins to develop?

Visit Roshani Chokshi’s website.

Glorious Rivals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Grandest Game book 2)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, The Grandest Game, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher of the first book.

“Seven players arrived on Hawthorne Island, each with their own secrets and motivations to win the Grandest Game. Millions are at stake, but so are hearts—and lives. The players now must race to win the game, solve myriad mysteries, and survive the twists and turns of Glorious Rivals.” - taken from Goodreads.

Picking up immediately where the first book left off, five players are left in the game and the stakes have picked up. This is really Grayson’s and his sisters’ story and the ride is contagious. Readers will quickly figure out that this is not the end of the series and the explosive ending will leave readers waiting for the next book. Lots of mysteries are still unsolved.

This trilogy will conclude with The Gilded Blade out sometime in 2026.

Visit Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ website.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (A Hunger Games novel)

 

SPOILER ALERT! This book is a prequel to The Hunger Games and is a continuation of the story.

“When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.” - taken from Goodreads.

The story of Haymitch Abernathy and the absolute horrors he suffered during his time in the Hunger Games. Seeing life in District 12 before Katniss and Peeta were born and how events from The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes fit together was incredible. I also loved seeing some previous victors that we met in Catching Fire. It was insightful. I cannot wait to see what story Ms. Collins will tell next.

Visit Suzanne Collins’ website.

The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games book #0)

 

SPOILER ALERT! This book is a prequel to The Hunger Games and is a continuation of the story.

“Ambition will fuel him.

Competition will drive him.

But power has its price.

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him. He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined -- every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute... and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.” - taken from Goodreads.

I cannot believe I waited so long to read this book. I loved seeing inside the inner workings of Coriolanus Snow and what it took to make him the ultimate villain that we loved to hate in The Hunger Games.

Visit Suzanne Collins’ website.

Stay With My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan

 

“Liana Sarkar lives and breathes music, hoping to follow in the footsteps of her A&R coordinator father. Maybe if she succeeds, he’ll finally give her the time of day instead of drowning himself in work to distract from the grief of her mother’s passing.

When Liana accidentally sabotages an up-and-coming local band, Third Eye, she makes it her mission to steer them towards success—without them discovering her role in their setback. But as she gets closer to Third Eye, especially their enigmatic leader Skyler Moon, it becomes harder to hide the truth.

With both her heart and their futures on the line, will Liana be able to undo the damage she’s caused?” - taken from Goodreads.

Once again, another great love story from one of my new must read authors. With a heavy influence of music throughout the story, Liana is mentally struggling since her mother’s death. When an aspiring musician lies to Liana, causing her to champion him to her record producing father, she is determined to right her wrong without her father’s involvement. The closer Liana gets the the members of Third Eye, especially its leader Skyler Moon, the lines begin to blur and it’s just a matter of time before the horrible truth is discovered.

Visit Tashie Bhuiyan’s website.

Powerless by Lauren Roberts (Powerless trilogy book 1)

 

“She is the very thing he’s spent his whole life hunting.

He is the very thing she’s spent her whole life pretending to be.

Only the extraordinary belong in the kingdom of Ilya—the exceptional, the empowered, the Elites.

The powers these Elites have possessed for decades were graciously gifted to them by the Plague, though not all were fortunate enough to both survive the sickness and reap the reward. Those born Ordinary are just that—ordinary. And when the king decreed that all Ordinaries be banished in order to preserve his Elite society, lacking an ability suddenly became a crime—making Paedyn Gray a felon by fate and a thief by necessity.

Surviving in the slums as an Ordinary is no simple task, and Paedyn knows this better than most. Having been trained by her father to be overly observant since she was a child, Paedyn poses as a Psychic in the crowded city, blending in with the Elites as best she can in order to stay alive and out of trouble. Easier said than done.

When Paeydn unsuspectingly saves one of Ilyas princes, she finds herself thrown into the Purging Trials. The brutal competition exists to showcase the Elites’ powers—the very thing Paedyn lacks. If the Trials and the opponents within them don’t kill her, the prince she’s fighting feelings for certainly will if he discovers what she is—completely Ordinary.” - taken from Goodreads.

I LOVED this book that reminded me of a mashup between Throne of Glass and The Hunger Games. Paeydn is just trying to survive in the Loot. Unknowingly saving Prince Kai brings her to the attention of the kingdom and a place in the Purging Trials. As an illegal Ordinary, her secret is in danger of being exposed, especially by the most powerful Elite in the kingdom, the very prince she saved. As the Trials continue, Paeydn and Kai are continually thrown together and find their feelings becoming more complicated. With a few twists and uncovered secrets at the end, readers will be ready to read the next book.

I actually read Powerless as a tandem read with the novella Powerful. 

Book two, Reckless, is now out.

Visit Lauren Roberts’ website.

Heist Royale by Kayvion Lewis (Thieves’ Gambit book 2)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Thieves’ Gambit, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“It's been six months since the end of the Gambit. Instead of winning an impossible wish, Ross has the threat of her family’s execution hanging over her head. Devroe, the only person Ross thought she could trust, could wish the Quests into oblivion at any time. Shockingly, despite his betrayal, Devroe is still making a play for Ross’s heart as the two work together pulling jobs for the Organization. But Ross has learned her lesson: A Quest can only trust another Quest.

When Ross finds herself at the center of a power struggle within the Organization, she sees her chance to change her fortunes. As a new deadly Gambit develops for control of the criminal underworld, Ross strikes a risky deal to guarantee protection for herself and her family.

In this final clash, Ross will square off against a ruthless opponent who will stop at nothing to seize power, and in their corner will be not only Devroe but his mother, who wants to destroy the Quests at any cost.

The new Gambit takes Ross and her crew into the intoxicating casinos of Monte Carlo and across treacherous snow-covered slopes in Antarctica as Ross competes against Devroe in a fight for her life. Loyalties will be tested, backs stabbed, hearts broken. May the best thief win.” - taken from Goodreads

Six months have passed and Ross and her friends find themselves in a new gambit where the stakes are life and death. Readers will quickly become immersed in the story once again and will find the ending a bit shocking. I for one enjoyed the epilogue but was a bit disappointed to say goodbye to the characters in this story.

Visit Kayvion Lewis’ website.

The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Greatest Game book 1)

 

SPOILER ALERT! This is a spin off series of the previous series, The Inheritance Games. Events in this book take place after the events that take place in the book, The Brothers Hawthorne. 

“Seven tickets. An island of dreams. The chance of a lifetime.

Welcome to the Grandest Game, an annual competition run by billionaire Avery Grambs and the four infamous Hawthorne brothers, whose family fortune she inherited. Designed to give anyone a shot at fame and fortune, this year’s game requires one of seven golden tickets to enter. With millions on the line, those seven players will do whatever it takes to win.

Some of the players are in it for the money. Some for power. Some for reasons all their own. Every single one of them has secrets. Amidst it all is Grayson Hawthorne, tasked with a vital role in this year’s game. But as tensions rise and the mind-bending challenges push the players to their limits—physically, mentally, and emotionally—it soon becomes clear that not everyone is playing by the rules.” - taken from Goodreads.

This new Inheritance Game series picks up following the events that transpired in The Brothers Hawthorne. Heiress Avery Grambs and the Hawthorne Brothers hold an annual competition called the Grandest Game to distribute the wealth that she inherited. This year's competitors all have ties to the Hawthorne family, including the surprise player Grayson and his half-sisters. As the mysteries deepen and the stakes are raised higher, who will survive this year's competition unscathed?

This book does end on a cliffhanger that will be resolved with book two, Glorious Rivals, due out July 29, 2025.

Visit Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ website.

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington

 

“You must work twice as hard to get half as much.

Adina Walker has known this the entire time she’s been on scholarship at the prestigious Edgewater Academy—a school for the rich (and mostly white) upper class of New England. It’s why she works so hard to be perfect and above reproach, no matter what she must force beneath the surface. Even one slip can cost you everything.

And it does. One fight, one moment of lost control, leaves Adina blacklisted from her top choice Ivy League college and any other. Her only chance to regain the future she’s sacrificed everything for is the Finish, a high-stakes contest sponsored by Edgewater’s founding family in which twelve young, ambitious women with exceptional promise are selected to compete in three mysterious events: the Ride, the Raid, and the Royale. The winner will be granted entry into the fold of the Remington family, whose wealth and power can open any door.

But when she arrives at the Finish, Adina quickly gets the feeling that something isn’t quite right with both the Remingtons and her competition, and soon it becomes clear that this larger-than-life prize can only come at an even greater cost. Because the Finish’s stakes aren’t just make or break… they’re life and death.

Adina knows the deck is stacked against her—it always has been—so maybe the only way to survive their vicious games is for her to change the rules.” - taken from Goodreads.

When a split second decision costs you everything you have worked for, to what lengths would you go to redeem yourself? That is the question that Adina Walker must answer in order to get her desired future back. She lost her composure and it cost her everything, including her acceptance to Yale. Her only hope to regain everything that she has lost is to secure an invitation to the Finish, a high stakes game sponsored by the uber wealthy Remington family. The winner gets the power and wealth of the family behind them. When she receives an invitation, Adina is ready to take back what was taken from her. But when a shocking event occurs the first night, Adina quickly realizes that she is in over her head and the outcome could be either life or death. Will Adina survive the Finish or die trying?

Visit Joelle Wellington’s website.

Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis (Thieves’ Gambit book 1)

“At only seventeen years old, Ross Quest is already a master thief, especially adept at escape plans. Until her plan to run away from her legendary family of thieves takes an unexpected turn, leaving her mother's life hanging in the balance.

In a desperate bid, she enters the Thieves' Gambit, a series of dangerous, international heists where killing the competition isn't exactly off limits, but the grand prize is a wish for anything in the world--a wish that could save her mom. When she learns two of her competitors include her childhood nemesis and a handsome, smooth-talking guy who might also want to steal her heart, winning the Gambit becomes trickier than she imagined.

Ross tries her best to stick to the family creed: trust no one whose last name isn't Quest. But with the stakes this high, Ross will have to decide who to con and who to trust before time runs out. After all, only one of them can win.” - taken from Goodreads.

Ross Quest just wants a tiny bit of normalcy in her life. When her getaway plan goes awry, her only option to save her mother’s life is to take her chances in the Thieves’ Gambit to win an unattainable prize. Can Ross keep her eyes on the prize or will her heart get in the way? Needless to say, that ending was a shocker!

Book two is due out in 2024.

Visit Kayvion Lewis’ website.

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

 

“Bradley Graeme is pretty much perfect. He's a star football player, manages his OCD well (enough), and comes out on top in all his classes . . . except the ones he shares with his ex-best friend, Celine.

Celine Bangura is conspiracy-theory-obsessed. Social media followers eat up her takes on everything from UFOs to holiday overconsumption--yet, she's still not cool enough for the popular kids' table. Which is why Brad abandoned her for the in-crowd years ago. (At least, that's how Celine sees it.)

These days, there's nothing between them other than petty insults and academic rivalry. So when Celine signs up for a survival course in the woods, she's surprised to find Brad right beside her.

Forced to work as a team for the chance to win a grand prize, these two teens must trudge through not just mud and dirt but their messy past. And as this adventure brings them closer together, they begin to remember the good bits of their history. But has too much time passed . . . or just enough to spark a whole new kind of relationship?” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a slow read for me. I heard such great things about this book that I couldn’t wait to read it. Unfortunately, it took awhile for me to get into it. Not wanting to give up and see how the story ended, the ending was okay. Definitely not one of my favorites. 

Visit Talia Hibbert’s website.

The Luminaries by Susan Dennard (The Luminaries book 1)

“Hemlock Falls isn't like other towns. You won't find it on a map, your phone won't work here, and the forest outside town might just kill you.

Winnie Wednesday wants nothing more than to join the Luminaries, the ancient order that protects Winnie's town—and the rest of humanity—from the monsters and nightmares that rise in the forest of Hemlock Falls every night.

Ever since her father was exposed as a witch and a traitor, Winnie and her family have been shunned. But on her sixteenth birthday, she can take the deadly Luminary hunter trials and prove herself true and loyal—and restore her family's good name. Or die trying.

But in order to survive, Winnie enlists the help of the one person who can help her train: Jay Friday, resident bad boy and Winnie’s ex-best friend. While Jay might be the most promising new hunter in Hemlock Falls, he also seems to know more about the nightmares of the forest than he should. Together, he and Winnie will discover a danger lurking in the forest no one in Hemlock Falls is prepared for.

Not all monsters can be slain, and not all nightmares are confined to the dark. - taken from Goodreads.

This was a surprisingly great read that I had a hard time putting down. The families/protectors of Hemlock Falls are sorted/named after the days of the week. Winnie Wednesday still dreams of becoming a hunter even after her father’s betrayal and her family’s shunning by the community. When she enters the hunter trials to everyone’s dismay, they are shocked to see she made a kill. Winnie didn’t but she didn’t correct anyone’s assumption, especially when her family was accepted back into the Luminaries. Back into the fold, Winnie gets help from Jay Friday, a former friend. The deeper Winnie gets back into her training, the more secrets and strange happenings that occur.

Book two is expected to be published in 2023. 

Visit Susan Dennard’s website.

A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan

 

“Mina Rahman has a plan for her future:

• Finally win the Golden Ivy student film competition

• Get into her dream school across the country

• Leave New York City behind once and for all

Mina’s ticket to winning the competition falls into her lap when indie film star—and known heartbreaker—Emmitt Ramos enrolls in her high school under a secret identity to research his next role. When Mina sets out to persuade Emmitt to join her cause, he offers her a deal instead: he'll be in her short film…if she acts as a tour guide to help him with a photography contest.

As Mina ventures across the five boroughs with Emmitt by her side, the city she grew up in starts to look different and more like home than it ever has before. With the competition deadline looming, Mina's dreams—which once seemed impenetrable—begin to crumble, and she’s forced to ask herself: Is winning worth losing everything?” - taken from Goodreads.

Mina Rahman cannot wait to Leave New York City and head to California to attend film school. In order to make her dreams come true, she is determined for her school’s film club to win a prestigious competition. Her golden ticket arrives at her school in the form of Emmitt Ramos, a up and coming bad boy movie star, who is there to prepare for an upcoming role. The two make a mutual deal. Emmitt will appear in the film if Mina will help him with a photography contest he has entered. When the pressure of Mina’s home life and desire to escape from her parents begins to affect her various relationships, will she risk everything and everyone in order to leave NYC? A great story about who and what makes a family and home for a person.

Visit Tashie Bhuiyan’s website.

Love & Other Great Expectations by Becky Dean

 

“Britt Hanson has always preferred scoring goals on the soccer field to analyzing dusty old books. But when an injury ends her dream to play in college, she jumps at the chance to compete in a scavenger hunt in England that takes her to the locations of classic novels—the prize money would change her life!

Once in the UK, she meets bookish and very British Luke Jackson. He can't actually help her with any of the clues (against the rules), but something about Luke compels her to invite him to join her. She wouldn't mind getting to know him—and listening to his accent.

To win, Britt must outsmart three competitors who aren't afraid to play dirty while solving clues and traveling around the English countryside. With Luke as her partner, the trip takes some unexpected turns, and Britt learns that sometimes you have to follow the map—and other times, you need to throw caution to the wind and go wherever the cobblestoned road leads you.” - taken from Goodreads.

Due to a life-altering injury, soccer player Britt Hansen sees her college plans go up in smoke. When she is offered the opportunity to participate in its literary scavenger hunt in England with a significant monetary prize, Britt jumps at the chance. Starting on her quest, she meets the handsome Luke Jackson, who tags along but isn't allowed to help her on her journey. As she deciphers the clues, Luke helps Britt see that she can have a different future than she planned and vice versa. A meet-cute that ends on a high note 

Visit Becky Dean’s website.

Debating Darcy by Sayantani Dasgupta

 

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that Leela Bose plays to win.

A life-long speech competitor, Leela loves nothing more than crushing the competition, all while wearing a smile. But when she meets the incorrigible Firoze Darcy, a debater from an elitist private school, Leela can’t stand him. Unfortunately, he’ll be competing in the state league, so their paths are set to collide.

But why attempt to tolerate Firoze when Leela can one-up him? The situation is more complicated than Leela anticipated, though, and her participation in the tournament reveals that she might have tragically misjudged the debaters -- including Firoze Darcy -- and more than just her own winning streak is at stake…her heart is, too.” - taken from Goodreads.

I'm probably one of the few people who hasn't either read or watched Pride and Prejudice, but I'm quite familiar with the characters and plot. In this modern day spin on Jane Austen's classic, the story is set around a high school forensics circuit. A charming story where “Elizabeth”, Leela Bose, must overcome her past experiences with racism, Leela is Bengali, and see beyond her own prejudices, to see the real Firoze Darcy. 

Visit Sayantani Dasgupta’s website.

A Magic Steeped in Poison by July I. Lin (Book of Tea book 1)

 

“I used to look at my hands with pride. Now all I can think is, "These are the hands that buried my mother."

For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it's her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom's greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning's only chance to save her sister's life.

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.” - taken from Goodreads

I loved how this fantasy read had a unique twist, magic through the power of tea. Full of secrets, betrayal, and forbidden romance, Ning soon discovers that life in the palace and the competition is cutthroat. Without giving away too many details, readers will be left clamoring for the conclusion after that cliffhanger ending.

This duology will conclude with A Venom So Dark and Sweet on August 23, 2022.

Visit Judy I. Lin’s website.