Games of Death and Desire

Rites of Possession #2

by Eva Chase

To prove I'm not a monster, I have to play a monstrous game.

The men I'm falling for have discovered my horrific secret. Only the intervention of a god has saved me and my forbidden magic from the gallows... for now.

We've barely scraped the surface of the brutal conspiracy lurking at the royal college, and the threat looms ever larger. To get to the root of the evil and destroy it, we'll have to infiltrate it at its source.

And I'm the only viable new recruit.

So I'll play a dangerous game, courting the favor of cold-blooded murderers while dallying with noblemen who don't know whether to revile or desire me.

But the deeper I'm drawn into the darkness, the more I wonder if there's any way for me to truly win...

Games of Death and Desire is the second book in a new fantasy romance series full of forbidden magic, impossible love, hot damaged men, and a rebellious heroine who's so much more than she imagines. There are more books to come.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Why Choose, Magic, High Fantasy, Paranormal

612 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 6, 2023

About the author

Eva Chase lives in Canada with her family. She loves stories both swoony and supernatural, and strong women and the men who appreciate them. You can visit her online at www.evachase.com.

Reviews

[Cassidy Chivers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a little repetitive and reminded my a lot of book one but I still enjoyed it. I do think that the romance is kinda weak (which for a why choose is interesting) but I love the plot and the plot really carry's it. I'm very intrigued by all the conspiracies and what is really going on so overall have a good time reading these.

[Thay · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Go ahead. Tell us what happened." From his tone, he might as well be saying "Tell me who I need to kill".

Games of Death and Desire was a read that I immediately immersed myself in after reading the first book in the series. I was extremely hooked by this world that Eva Chase created, by the mystery of the conspiracy and by the romance that slowly builds between our main character Ivy and her 4 associates. However, I must admit that I liked this book less than the first one.

The plot remains quite interesting, but I felt like it was dragging at times, some parts were becoming repetitive in my opinion. The romance appeared much more prominent in this book, but despite liking the 4 boys, only the relationship between Ivy and Stavros is what catches my attention the most. Our character remains a badass, who doesn't hesitate to do what needs to be done, I love that about her. We focused more on the other boys too. This time, Alek and Stavros gained significant moments for their characters' development. However, what can I say about Benedikt? I need to use spoilers for this. I really thought we would have more moments of Ivy with Benny in this book, I found it very strange and infuriating that the other 4 were hiding such a huge secret from him. I thought they would trust him more. And I completely understand Benedikt's bitterness because of all the obviousness of them hiding stuff. However, that plot twist was not what I expected at all. And I can't say I liked it, unfortunately. I thought we were going to have a big arc of Benny realizing that he doesn't need to prove anything to anyone, but no, we got betrayal and his death instead. Even his friends didn't trust and believe him. I also thought they overcame his death rather quickly. What a shame.

All in all, I still thought it was a good read, it kept me interested enough to read the book quickly. But I had more conflicted feelings about this sequel due to the development of the story and certain plots. Stavros remains my favorite love interest, but I like all the boys. Furthermore, I spent a great part of the book intrigued by a certain naive guard and the ending left me more excited for the next installment and in hope that my level of enjoyment will go up again.

✨ RATING
- C (characters): 6/10
- A (atmosphere): 7/10
- W (writing): 6/10
- P (plot): 6/10
- I (intrigue): 7/10
- L (logic): 7/10
- E (enjoyment): 8/10
↬ TOTAL: 6.71 = ⭐⭐⭐+0.5

💦 SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

🔖 TROPES:
- Reverse harem
- Forced proximity
- Slow burn
- Forbidden magic
- Academy setting
- Hate to friendship to love
- Possession
- Who did this to you?

[The_Book_Brat · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Reverse Harem
*Fantasy
*Multi-PoV
*Academy Setting
*Unique FMC
*Quest
*Undercover
*Ghost Guide
*Elites VS Survivor
*Established Harem (4)
*Mid Burn
*2/4
Emotions, excitement and entanglements!
What a great follow up to the first book of this series 😄 I really like the balance of action that moved the plot forward and the character development.
In an attempt to discover whose behind the magical issues at the college Ivy goes undercover which certainly leads to a few mishaps and worries for her and her men, really bringing out their protective sides 🥰 but it also forces them to look more closely at themselves and their own emotions 😮 even if some are more reluctant than others to admit what those pesky feelings could be 🙈
The character development comes through learning about their individual back story and you certainly feel for them more and more 😔 these deepening connections also means there’s a greater level of spice in this second book 🔥
There’s plenty of twists and turns to keep you turning the pages and you becomes emotionally invested especially with the betrayals and heart wrenching moments 😳 Will be interesting to see how Ivy responds after that last chapter!!

[Lexie Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay 4 ⭐️ BUT I DNFed around 60%. While I like the story and the characters I am not a reverse harem kinda lady. NOW if you ARE into that vibe this is that and you will probably love. Like I said the plot is good!!! The characters are good!!! But I like a possessive man, not so much a “she deserves to be loved by every man because she’s perfect” and that’s with all due respect bc go ahead girl, you are indeed all that babe.

[Aimy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish there was more of an emphasis on the romance in this series. For a Why Choose any romantic scenes are really few and far between. It’s really more of a c-plot than anything, which is a bit of a shame. Part of the fun for Why Choose romances is the angst and tension x however many love interests there are and there is that, just not often.

In general I feel like the plot of this book was unnecessarily slow. The whole trial sequence goes on for way too long, there’s so many scenes that don’t move the plot forward at all and it repeats over and over. Add to that the fact that 90% of the time spent in Ivy’s head is completely pointless, because all she does is ruminate over the same bits of information repeatedly without coming to any sort of conclusion. I skipped a lot of this book, completely flying by entire paragraphs, and yet I didn’t lose the slightest bit of reading comprehension.

Also, Benedikt’s character arc is extremely confusing to me. Without mentioning any spoilers, it just feels like Eva Chase changed her mind halfway through drafting book 2 and it resulted in a really jarring and incomplete plot where he is concerned. I don’t know if that will be remedied in future sequels.

Also also, shoutout to Casimir’s ever changing eyes, which are sometimes a piercing blue and other times go back to the forest green she first described in book 1, lmfao.

And I still don’t understand why the chick on the covers has silver hair. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Cee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so so good. First one was better and had more scenes with the guys outside of the hidden room, but I liked the progression and some of the twists.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eva Chase never disappoints. I don't think I've ever read a book by her and didn't end up loving it. When I read the first book in this series though I was even more in love than usual. This is epic fantasy with a touch of romance and a taste of reverse harem and it was all I had wanted it to be. I was therefore really looking forward to the second installment. Due to my poor planning skills I only finished my arc today, though.

Once more the author delivered an amazing book that has everything you'd possibly want in a romantasy. In this book, now the guys know our heroine's biggest secret, the characters really get the time to grow closer, form a connection and start a relationship. And since there are some really delicious chapters from the guy's point of views we also get to know them a little better and therefore can start falling in love with them ourselves. Especially Stavros really stole my heart this book!

But, while the men are amazing, it's Ivy really stealing the show in this book. I like how Ivy is badass, can take care of herself, knows how to fight and how to play games and never becomes cold. She has emotions, she does end up shocked at times, she does need aftercare when things have been rough, she does show us that what she does is not easy. She's badass, but she still has feelings and emotions and that makes her easy to relate to and to admire.

On top of that there is a delicious plot. This book is filled with twists and turns and reveals. Ivy is going undercover and slowly we're learning more about the danger, their goals, their wants and their ways of getting there. And just when we think that we have everything figured out, the author throws in another surprise and another one and another one. I'm really curious what's waiting for us in the next book!

[Lior · Rating 3 out of 5]

{ I RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS AN ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST OPINION }

my rating: 🌟🌟🌟✨ (3.5 stars!)

I'm hooked on this plot and I love it!
I got attached to the characters in book one, I love Ivy and her relationship with Julita. Ivy went through such a character arc in the first book I didn't think there was any development needed, so I was so pleasantly surprised when Ivy kept growing as a character, it was brilliant!
I love the magic system so so much! I mentioned this in my review for the first book in the series, and obviously I still feel this way. The magic system is like nothing I've seen before, it fits the plot so perfectly, it's so unique and intriguing!
but... I don't know what it is about this book, the pacing of this one was a bit slow for me, the plot is super intriguing but it just didn't escalate fast enough to keep me hooked in the first like 300 pages. I felt like it dragged a bit I don't even know why since the book is literally packed with drama and action on every page! after around page 300 it started picking up the pace, I got hooked all over again, and the ending? that cliffhanger? I'M DYINGGGG
the romance is really just right, not too much of it, not too little of it, not insta-lovey, but not a horribly slow slow-burn, I love the romantic development in this series a lot!
all in all, I liked this a lot, I love the plot, the execution was a bit slow for me, but I'll definitely be continuing with this series in the future!

a sentence I wrote before finishing this book - after the events of book one, if the guys do anything to hurt Ivy I swear I'll kill them through the pages 🫠

[LissLovesLit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. WOW. Woooooooooowww! 🤯

Games of Death and Desire is the second book in the Rites of Possession series, and it did not disappoint! ⭐️ We get more of the diverse characters from Thief of Silver and Souls... plus some really intriguing new ones!

✨️Fantasy
💥Dangerous Magic
💕Reverse Harem
🗡Lady Thief
🫥Conspiracy
🔍Undercover
💪Emotional Growth

There were very unexpected twists that had me shocked! 😲 Plus, the anticipated moves I had been hoping for after the end of ToSaS. I need to know what happens next!!! The reveal on the last few pages ⬆️ piqued my interest even more than it already was!

💬Favorite Quotes:
🎨"...You’re art. There aren’t many people who can say that.”
💌“It’s an honor to have you trust me with your full self.”
🦋“Have you been assaulted by that butterfly?”

... There are so many more quotes that I absolutely LOVED, but they would give away too much.

[Shawna (what.shawna.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: Cannot be read alone. Picks up where the previousw book left off and ends on a cliffhanger.

This book does hit a bit of a second book slump until a big plot twist in the middle. The pacing didn’t really work for me because after the build up in the last book it’s like we start the slow build up all over. Although there are some really hot �� scenes. It almost seems like everything is going to be wrapped up neatly right at the end until an interesting reveal and kind of predictable plot twist is thrown in to end on a cliffhanger.

Narration: Michelle Sparks is fantastic, so perfectly cast. This book also adds a male narrator for chapters from the various male’s POVs.

[AshReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this audiobook. Michelle and Jason really brought the characters to life and I am dying for book 3.

Ivy and her men try to navigate through everything they learned. Stavros is a major d o u c h e canoe for a good portion of the book after finding out what she is. He does something pretty shady. Ivy goes undercover (even more) to infiltrate the scourge sorcerers. Ivy and Julita’s relationship is really unique and they grew in this book. There were definitely some struggles especially with the growing relationship between Ivy, Casimir, and Alek.

[Jessica The Ink Spell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Questa serie mi sta piacendo proprio tanto.
Questo volume tende a essere un pochino ridondante in alcuni punti, ma visto il tipo di trama è anche comprensibile.
Sono mooooolto curiosa di leggere il prossimo!

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the first, oh my. I didn't expect all the twists!! RTC

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I liked this book. It was a solid second book in this series. We got to see the relationships between Ivy and her men develop, the scourge sorcerers take a hit, and it ended with an intriguing but not devastating cliffhanger that made me extremely excited to continue the series. My only complaint was that I found the story a bit repetitive, and considering this book is over 500 pages there were only about two or three major developments with the main scourge sorcerers plot. Ivy splits her time between infiltrating the scourge sorcerers and repairing her relationship with her men, while the men realize they love her. One chapter Ivy is with the scourge sorcerers (who are a truly awful group of people), the next she’s with one or more of her men, learning more about them, or accepting that she deserves love. I enjoyed the book, but a pattern quickly emerged, and I prefer a more varied plot.

The character development of all of the main characters was a chief focus of the book and was executed very well. We learn more about everyone's backstory, and Ivy’s situation with Julita goes through some bumps, but I loved how they worked through it and remained friends, despite their less-than-ideal situation. I have a prediction about how Julita’s ending might go based on a revelation in this book, and I am excited to see if I’m right or what might happen. There are some major plot twists that I found predictable, but still surprising and good additions to the story. While I did not find Games of Death and Desire as engrossing as the first book, I enjoyed the story and character development, and can’t wait to see what dangers Ivy and her men will face in the next book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahh the twists and turns!

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh, love how it's all coming together

Great story, well written, and rh/wc! We know there was a third, so, hopefully, the next book will find them...

[Jess Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this series!

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben, my man, you got what you deserved you slimy little fuck

[aurey · Rating 4 out of 5]

really loving this series. i do feel as if this one dragged on at certain points. but regardless super easy to read and get into. but the dismissal of benedikt confuses me a bit. did the author decide she didn’t like him suddenly and was like “let’s get rid of him and bring someone else in”? bc that’s kinda what it felt like lmao. not complaining tho bc i didn’t care much for him anyways. hope that the clay man will be introduced to the harem

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story that I could NOT put down!
Ivy and her men have quite a bit to figure out after the ending of the previous book. There are plenty more twists and turns from the scourge sorcerers. The conspiracy grows and it's a little difficult to figure out who to trust. Ivy goes undercover (well, even more undercover) to try and infiltrate the sorcerers from the inside and she has to do some really crazy things. Stavros, Casimir, and Alek will really have to be there to keep her from allowing her magic to take control of her.

I liked Julita more in this story, than the last one. She was able to grow more and wasn't as mean. I like the relationship Ivy has with her. They play off each other nicely.

Have no fear, there are more steamy times in this one (one even with multiple partners!). The hurdles Ivy and company faced were good ones that allowed the relationships to grow stronger and clear the air where needed.
One thing I liked in this story, compared to the previous one, is the multiple POVs! The men get to share their thoughts! I totally get why the author didn't include them in the first story and that makes them all the more special in this story.

I loved the narrators! It's the same one from the previous audiobook and a new one. The female narrator voices all the chapters from Ivy's perspective and the male narrator voices all the chapters from Ivy's men.

This is the second book in the series and the first book needs to be read prior to this one to understand the plot line.

[Jo’s reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice : 🌶,5

Oh the twists and turns !!!

This book was better than the first one and made me fall deeply in love with the guys. I loved to see Ivy’s development and how her relationships with the guys evolved.

I wanted more informations on the guys backgrounds and past. I got all the info I wanted which is amazing !!!

With this new book we sink into the conspiracy and its secrets. I loved to see how Ivy and the guys decide to deal with it and everything it entails. New characters appear and I can’t wait to see what Eva has in store for everybody !

[Ana Paula Fiorotti · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️


"“You said that Casimir and Alek have compared you to Signy. I don’t think they’re wrong, and not just because of whatever romantic entanglements you’ve gotten yourself into.”
Ivy snorts, but I go on. “If anything, you’re even braver than she was. You’re facing down an enemy less predictable and more brutal, who could do more harm to this world than the empire ever did, and you’re doing it on your own except for a ghost who can’t offer you anything but her voice. We’ll stop this threat because of you, whether the rest of the country ever finds out who the real hero was or not.”"



***** Review with spoilers *****



This was... long. God, so long. I already knew what to expect based on the first book, which was already very big, but this one? This one had no end. And the problem with it isn’t even being a big book — I’m okay and used to that when you have something to tell, so you need all those pages. The issue is that this one felt too long and too empty, like you could’ve reached the same result, the same situations happening, with a little less dragging. I mean, it takes forever to get to the point that could’ve happened 200 pages before. There was literally too much beating around the bush, and then boom! everything happens at once in the end — Ivy and Stravos getting together, the initiation ritual, the end of the supposedly leader of the “cult.” It was tasking to get through, to be honest. I found myself having to stop, let it go for a while, and then come back later because it made me tired of reading it. I just wish there was more action, less dragging, and fewer pages. The book would’ve had the same results with much less effort.

I also still don’t know how to feel about the changes from the first book — going from having a unique POV from Ivy to this one, where each of the guys has theirs too. I understand why it was needed, but I still found it odd, since I’m used to books in a series following the same kind of structure as the ones before them. It was a surprise, not totally bad, but it did bother me a little.

One good thing about this book, though, is that we really get to see their personalities, pasts, and stuff like that, which we normally don’t get in why-choose books. Ivy has more screen time, so obviously, her personality is shown and worked on more, but the guys also get a very good development happening.

And since we’re talking about them... Casimir, Alek, and Ivy’s scenes were a little boring, I’m not gonna lie. It just wasn’t thrilling to watch them get together, and not even when they say “I love you” — there’s some chemistry missing there. It feels like they just clicked in place together and that was it. I think I was expecting a little more exhilaration, more provoking, more time before they got together for good.

Stravos, on the other hand, we had all that there. It wasn’t exactly the enemies-to-lovers kind of slow-burn, love-hate, provoking situation that I love and have been wanting to read, but I could say it was good. I mean, all the giggles went to Stravos and her scenes, while the other two just made me go, “ah, okay...”

I have to say, though, this author does know how to shock you with some of the things that happen. Like, for example, I didn’t expect at all for Benedikt to be a traitor. I noticed his relationship with Ivy wasn’t on the same level as the others, but I just thought they would have a problem and fix it — just one more arc before she could add him to her harem. I was already counting him as a member, honestly. So when he showed up not only as a traitor but also going against her? I wasn’t expecting that at all.

Also, that ending with the guard being one of the daimon imprisoned in a clay body — like what? I know there were hints of her feeling magic around him every time she passed by, but still, I would’ve thought of a lot of things, and that wouldn’t have been one of them.

Even with all the dragging and the moments that made me want to put the book down, I can’t deny that it still made me feel something — laugh, get excited, and root for the characters. It frustrated me, it exhausted me, but it also reminded me why I love getting lost in these stories. I might have been tired by the end, but I’m still curious, still invested, and still can’t wait to see what happens next. That being said, I really hope the next books aren’t as slow-paced as this one — if they are, I’m not sure I’ll have the patience to finish them.



Main characters: Ivy, Casimir, Alek and Stravos.

Tropes: reverse harem/why choose, chosen one, who did that to you/touch her and die, secret identity.

Supernatural types: humans with powers given by gods.

[Ali Lussier · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I was born with a broken soul. I know that makes me a monster. But for as long as I’m able to… I’d like to be other things too.”

That ending! WHAT? I mean I had a feeling with two more books it wouldn't be that simple to tie up our evil sourcerers like Ivy and co thought but, I was NOT expecting that revelation. I am in shambles. 😭 I'm still not recovered from the betrayal we had to go through and now this? The plot twists are insane. And I'm here for it. 👏

I loved seeing more of Ivy getting a grip on her power and feeling confident. I loved seeing her relationships with the men growing. We get more of a look into each of their pasts and I did enjoy getting a few chapters in each of their POVS to get even more of a look into who they are and what they're like. I do wish there was just a teensy bit more buildup to them all deciding to share Ivy since there was some brief instances of jealousy and then it just disappeared which was a disappointment - I was kinda hoping for a bit more angst and push/pull between them all but, it's fine. I still enjoyed the story and their relationships. I'm excited to see more of how they all work together in book 3 and 4 though!

I really enjoy the friendship that's been building between Ivy and Julita too. Even though they both didn't have any choice in Julita's soul entering Ivy's - they've become such a force of friendship and strength to each other which I adore. I'm ALWAYS all in for strong female friendships. 🩷

Ratings:
✨️: 4/5
🌶: 3/5

Just cause I've got to say this. BENEDIKT? REALLY? My heart was so shattered. I have so many mixed emotions. Firstly, I hated how the characters spent about 5 min grieving him and then essentially moved on. I hope maybe they come back to it in book 3 but, I somehow doubt they will. And like I get it - shock value and betrayals. I love a good betrayal you don't see coming and everything but, in book 1 we really only glossed over Alek and Ben and didn't get to know them and so I expected they would play a bigger part in book 2 - we get some look into Alek (post betrayal) and I was waiting for more of Ben and then the betrayal happemed amd I was like "wait what?!" cause I was shocked but, also I felt it would've been even MORE impactful if we actually got to know him more? The little glimpses we got was intriguing and it seemed like he went bad guy out of no where (because lbr he had no plan in place when he went to the other side which is why he fumbled and threw Ivy under the bus) but like..he clearly wasn't full bad guy cause he didn't out their entire operation or the men. So it just felt really left field. Like at least make it so he was an inside agent the whole time or something. 😭 I just hated how that whole situation went down. Especially cause after finishing the book and looking back - in hindsight - I can see how Eva was probably leading up to him always going rouge on them: he wasn't a huge focal point in book 1, by book 2 he was STILL being thrown in the background and the others were keeping secrets from him and didn't "trust him" with Ivy's truth, the fact they kept comparing her to Signy (?) and how she only had THREE men in her harem, and then how we started getting POVS of the guys but Ben never appeared. Granted I'll say Eva did a fairly good job of leaving hints but covering her tracts cause while Ben wasn't a focal point in book 1 so that could've been a red flag, she covered that by making Alek also in the background so you assumed book 2 would cover them both and then while we got the men's POV in book 2 being introduced it was pretty much like 1 chapter of each guy (Stav I think had a few extra) leading up to Ben's betrayal and they were so spread out that you didn't question it and just expected Ben's to be coming. And with them hiding secrets from him, well you just assume that would be a plot point and something they'd have to fight thru as a group. I'm still overall happy with tje story and loved it - I was shocked by the betrayal but I just wiah it was handled differently tbh. And even like a POV into Ben right before he died to get his thoughts would've been nice cause him turning bad guy because "my uncle/king thinks I'm useless and now you guys do too since you're hiding things from me" was such a lame excuse lmao.

[Raven9308 · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I was worried the pacing in this series but the author amped it up in book 2 when the guys finally knew the truth and could see Ivy for who she really is, entirely. I knew our former General was going to be the toughest nut to crack but to see him finally break down and let himself care and want Ivy was a fun rollercoaster haha. I loved how sweet and protective he became, even if he kept making mistakes and saying/reacting the ways he shouldn’t. With everything he has gone through, I can tell he is just a big ol’ cinnamon roll on the inside. I loved the tender moments with Ivy reading to him after his prickly personality before haha. I loved our scholar, I wasnt sure about him in book 1 but getting to see him react when she tried to do something nice with her ghostly passenger, to him revealing his past, to him taking off his mask in front of her and in front of our sexy escort (not sure what to call him haha). I loved seeing them each get their time with her but we got some group scenes that were so yuuuummy. I think this was a fabulous mix of story and romance, with book 1 being more story focused.

The story for this book was faster paced, even if there were lulls between trials. We have to deal with a lot of weird stuff with these scourge sorcerers (I could have spelled that so wrong, but this is what happens when I listen to books haha). I thought it was weird in book 1 with the giving up limbs and stuff, but then we got into golem works with things being made from clay to being animated. I was shocked about the one reveal/twist, I didnt see that coming. I have a feeling Ivy is going to be like the Queen of the daimons or something haha after she reached out to them and let them know she didnt blame them and is trying to help them from being controlled by the baddies. I am so excited to see where that goes in the next book. I really want the one baddie to be dead but I have a feeling he has ascended past what happened or was that a golem pretending to be him? Who knows. Also we have to deal with a betrayal and I am intrigued to see if he was really taken care of or if he is going to make an appearance in book 3 or 4. I also really enjoyed seeing Ivy be able to manipulate her powers and her communicating with her god. There are a lot of levels to this story, a true epic fantasy RH world and I am all here for it!

I am eager to get my hands on book 3 on audio, I cannot wait to see what these characters have to deal with. With the King, the baddies and their clubs/weird drinking fests haha, to another woman trying to reach out to Ivy/not sure her intentions, the guard who I was starting to like, and our 4 main people and them getting used to being together, exploring their feelings. It’s going to be even more high octane I bet!

Narration was fantastic, I looooooove Jason Clarke so I was so excited to hear him do the guys’ POVs and to hear his timbre 😍. I thought the emotions were done so well in book 2, with all the different events, standoffs, near deaths, passion from walls finally breaking down, etc. I thought one of my favorite relationships with these performances was with Ivy and her soul passenger. Their interaction and friendship growing is going to kill me when she goes away (unless her soul can be put into one of these golems!!) I loved seeing them grow closer and be there for each other. Are they perfect, nope. But to see them care about each other, be sympathetic and help each other was a fabulous touch and Michelle did a fantastic job with that! I thought Cas’s performances were amazing, but Alex’s chapters and performances were my favorite. The tension and push and pull between Stavros and Ivy was perfect, the narrators both did a great job on their end. The anticipation with the baddies kept me on the edge of my seat. I didnt see the betrayal coming and I am unsure how I feel about some of the side characters and the narrators made the story come to life and I didnt want it to end!

Hopefully book 3 on audio won’t be too long after release ❤️

[Nikki Yoder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two in the first fantasy series Rites of Possession by Eva Chase. This is a book you can sink your teeth into and be completely satisfied. Getting lost in the world and characters Eva has constructed and feeling deflated when the book ends, but the third one isn’t out yet ☹. In this book we finally get to see Ivy’s guys’ perspective, and they are voiced by the deeply talented Jason Clarke, and Michelle Sparks returns to bring out the spunk in Ivy. This book does end on a cliffy with two more books in the series to go, and I cannot wait until they are released so I know what happens now that time is running out.

Narration: Dual narration, first-person present tense POV with a few flashbacks.
Tropes: friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, secret life, academy, grumpy/sunshine, reverse harem, noble and commoner, military, bookworm

Overall: 4.5
Spice: 2.5
Humor: 2
Drama: 3.5
Darkness: 2.5

This books picks up right where the first one left off, so if you haven’t read or listened to it yet, there will be spoilers…
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Three of Ivy’s guys are surprised to learn her secret, and they keep this secret from Benedikt. In turn, Ivy has to put her life on the line again and again to re-win their trust, especially Stavros, who can’t seem to decide if he loves or hates Ivy.

Alex and Casimir are not as torn about their feelings and quickly believe her when she explains why and how she has kept this secret for all these years. We get to see a bit more into each of the characters’ pasts and see what makes them tick and react the way they do.

As her feelings develop for all of the men, her acting skills are put to the test when she volunteers for a mission that will hopefully provide answers as to what their enemies are up to and how to stop them, but will put her life in danger, while she sources out the truth.

The deeper Ivy goes, and the more she tries to prove she is not like the others of her kind, the more intricately their lives intertwine, until it is nearly impossible for them to separate themselves, and when they learn of the betrayal by someone they thought was on their side, it cracks their already fragile relationships, especially when everything they have been fighting for, might come crashing down around them.

[Kay H · Rating 5 out of 5]

OOF. I am still riding that "I read one of my favorite books" high. The FARTHEST thing from this book is Second Book Syndrome. There was nothing about this book that lulled, stalled, or meandered.

We got answers to critical questions which gave a sense of settling into the story even more, while other answers were still left outstanding and new questions were raised.

Some of the little breadcrumb trails that have been laid were brought to their conclusion. This not only served to help settle into the story but also to give the reader trust in the author. There will be times that you read a book and you think breadcrumbs are being left, but then the book or series ends and they never were brought to their conclusion. You're left not only with a sense of discomfort but also reduced trust in the author that every aspect of the story was intentional. It starts to feel accidental when those breadcrumbs actually lead somewhere.

This is the kind of series that you re-read and annotate. Starting to see the links and connections, the foreshadowing. The first read is the "stay up until 2 AM to finish the book" read, and the second read is the "okay, let's slow down and really absorb it" read.

I adored this book. This is a new favorite fantasy romance series. This is what I will be comparing other fantasy romance series against. ESPECIALLY why-choose. This book was amazing in showing the character and relationship development. The multiple POV was supportive of character development and understanding and didn't impact the immersion whatsoever.

Honestly, cannot recommend it enough. If you are on a reading spring, YouTube video, Instagram post, TikTok video, and someone is recommending the Rites of Possession series by Eva Chase with a fiery passion.... it is probably me.

Now begins the pain of waiting until March for Secrets of Graves and Gold...

Huge thank you to BookSirens and Eva Chase for providing a free digital advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kelsey Goin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Introduction: "Games of Death and Destruction" by Eva Chase is a thrilling urban fantasy novel that plunges readers into a world of supernatural intrigue and deadly games.

Summary: Set in a city where supernatural beings secretly coexist with humans, the story follows a young woman thrust into a deadly game orchestrated by powerful forces. As she navigates treacherous alliances, dangerous challenges, and unexpected betrayals, she must confront her own inner demons while unraveling the mysteries surrounding her past.

Analysis: "Games of Death and Destruction" excels in its fast-paced plot and adrenaline-fueled action sequences. Chase expertly blends elements of mystery, suspense, and romance to keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. However, some may find the plot twists predictable, and certain character motivations lacking depth.

Themes: Themes of survival, betrayal, and redemption are woven throughout the narrative, adding layers of complexity to the story. The novel explores the consequences of power and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect what they hold dear.

Characterization: The characters in "Games of Death and Destruction" are dynamic and engaging, each with their own strengths, flaws, and hidden agendas. The protagonist undergoes a compelling journey of self-discovery, grappling with moral dilemmas and personal sacrifices along the way.

Writing Style: Chase's writing style is sharp and gripping, with vivid descriptions and snappy dialogue that propel the story forward. However, some readers may find the pacing uneven, with certain scenes feeling rushed or underdeveloped.

Overall Impression: Overall, "Games of Death and Destruction" is a pulse-pounding read that will appeal to fans of urban fantasy and supernatural thrillers. While it may not break new ground in the genre, its blend of action, intrigue, and romance makes for an entertaining and enjoyable ride.

[Jack-Jack · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope. This one lost the plot—literally. I should have stopped the minute the FMC started to go crazy. At first, this noble idea of wanting to make a difference before her inevitable doom made (kind of) sense. But then she flipped it around with a whole “Everyone is more valuable than me, it's okay if I die even though I never thought it served me any good” attitude. What? Pick a lane! It was like watching someone try to parallel park with their eyes closed—one minute, she’s all deep and meaningful, the next, she's basically a walking contradiction. I was left thinking, "Is she supposed to be relatable, or just randomly tossing out dramatic one-liners?"

Now, about the romance... well, it wasn’t terrible. I believe it wasn’t memorable because at some point, the author went, "Ugh, this is taking too long," and hardcore slammed the insta-lust button. The story ended up channeling full-on SOMI vibes—going from zero to everything in seconds. You can almost hear the soundtrack playing in the background.

But, you know what, let’s talk about Benny. Oh, poor Benny. That plot twist was a complete train wreck. The author might as well have slapped a “mind the gap” sign on the plot because that twist left us all hanging. Imagine you were Benny, and you were just out here minding your own business, and BAM, your fate was sealed with zero warning and nobody missed you at the end. No build-up, no payoff, just a big, fat “Benny who?”

The story started off with such promise, but got wasted at the end. Blah.

[Casi McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great. Tho the way Stravos treated my girl Ivy I mean I can understand but damn a little more groveling I def would’ve appreciated. And I felt so bad that she kept thinking she deserved all the bullshit she got put thru simply bc of who she is and ppl thinking she’s a monster. So sad.

Other than that I love how the relationships have moved in this book and how they’ve all bonded and become closer to each other. Especially her with Casimir and Alek it’s so damn cute I love those two with her. And once Stravos stopped being a dick I was happy with them too. I’m just happy Ivys finally finding some happiness and able to be herself with others that truly care about her.

I’d def like to know more about her Riven powers and I’m really hoping it delves more into who she is and why she is bc I just feel there’s more to it than what’s been told. Plus the fact that the god Kosmel is really putting his hand down into the pot of mortal stuff is really interesting. Makes you wonder where this whole scourge sorcerer stuff is going.

This whole thing is getting more and more fucked it’s soo crazy. Literally unpredictable and I’m never ready for it. The suspense is on point. Definitely did not see that cliffhanger coming with the random guy and daimon stuff I did expect that from the king tho unfortunately bc let’s be honest yk.

Anywho to end this as always to the author you are fantastic and this series so far is awesome. And to another reader keep going bc the story only gets better.

[Risa Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic second book to this series! Eva Chase never disappoints. Between the world building and relationships and overall story telling, she just sucks you right into her books.

Ivy has had to overcome so much in life, and she’s still got such a ways to go before she can attempt to have peace. While I can understand the reaction the men had at the beginning once they found out about her riven magic, I still hated it. I silently placed bets in my mind on who would get over it first, and I’m pleased to say I was correct. The devotion they have to Ivy is just beautiful, and I love seeing how much they build her up and strengthen her.

Ivy has to deal with so much to get to the scourge sorcerers, but, man, does she do a fantastic job of it. Talk about a bada$$ character. She’s still so relatable, too, though, with her insecurities and emotions and everything. She’s such a wonderful character, and I can’t wait to see how much more she grows.

The betrayal she and the group faced broke my heart. I definitely see how and why it happened, but I’m still sad about it.

I had my doubts about the pretty boy guard she kept encountering, but I definitely didn’t see the twist that came at the end!

5/5 stars! If I could give more than five stars, I would. I’m loving this series so much. I did receive a copy of this for my honest review.