Gods of the Game

Gods of the Game #1

by Phil Tucker

Krieg Chess: Where glory is won at the edge of a blade.

In the sun-scorched future of 2442, survival takes the form of a game - Krieg Chess. More than a simple game, it's a high-tech fusion of strategy and combat, demanding intellect and brute force in equal measure. Players wield advanced technologies and unearth latent abilities, transforming from pawns to knights, rooks to kings in a brutal ballet of power and progression.

Against this backdrop emerge two extraordinary players: Charoen and his sister, Jessie, refugees from a camp outside Oslo, lifted from obscurity by the enigmatic billionaire Virgil. Their latent talents set aflame, they're recruited into a new team of elite players and an electrifying new reality. Training in the remote Faroe Islands, they unlock staggering powers and take on monstrous adversaries, every victory sculpting them into formidable forces on the game board.

But Krieg Chess isn't just a game—it's a crucible, a theater of war, where brutality and strategy clash and sparks of personal histories, deception, and unexpected alliances are ignited. Can Charoen and Jessie master their abilities and the game's ruthless complexities to rise from obscurity to fame?

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy

377 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 7, 2024

About the author

Thanks for visiting my page! I'm Phil Tucker, a Brazilian/Brit who currently resides in Asheville, NC, where I resist the siren call of the forests and mountains to sit inside and hammer away on my laptop.

Reviews

[PunkHazard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an ARC for a honest review!

Ok this Book was a very interesting read for me for a variety of reasons. First I want to say that Phil Tucker is quickly becoming one of my favorite aurthors so I’m bias in the sense that I’m naturally inclined to like his books. On the other hand the specific sub genre of this book isn’t necessarily to my taste(for reasons I’ll explain). Suffice it to say I enjoyed the book and it did everything right to invest me into the story given what it is. I give it a solid 4/5 stars.

Pros:

Worldbuilding and Concept: I want to start off again by being impressed by Phil’s imagination and inventiveness. The futuristic world building and the Kreig game itself is phenomenally well realized(with some caveats). It got to the point that the world was enticing me more then it probably should have and I found myself more interested in what was going on in the world then some of the training sequences. I want to learn more about Echos, the political nature of the different factions and nations, the advanced technologies and planetary systems involved. We didn’t get a lot and I don’t expect much more, but I am curious. The Kreig game itself was fun and I can see a lot of avenues to explore and take advantage of it. I like the War games aspects and the different roles and strengths of each piece. Phil took a big swing with this concept and I think it landed for the most part. It was solid enough that I do believe this is a game people would play and enjoy in a fantastical future.

Characters: Phil also has the ability to make me root for his MC’s even when no one else is. I was on Charoen side thoughtout his whole inner conflict even when I was supposed to think he was wrong. His hatred for the game because of his past made sense to me and I actually started to get annoyed when no one around him understood that, especially his sister. It weirdly got to the point that I was hoping he would leave when her and Virgil was mad at him cause he wouldn’t abandon his sister after seeing her get disemboweled. That made no sense to me and if I’m honest it still doesn’t. But I am happy he’s starting to reconcile with his past and if he actually loves the game then it is truly for the best. Phil does a good job and making you synchronize with the way his protagonist think (or maybe I just share a lot of their flaws).

I enjoyed Jessie cause she had the drive and independent thought of a MC in her own right. Even going so far as to hurt her self for her ambition(again not something you usually see outside of th MC). Virgil is a cool wild card and I’m interested in his backstory and to get more justification for how he thinks and to see what he ends of doing throughout the series. The ending made me think him and Charoen will have a more antagonistic relationship but I don’t get how that will work but I’m interested to see. Beatrice was a fun character. Her past and relationship with Cheroen’s father and her subsequent emotional turmoil was fascinating.

Progression: I found the progression fun. Now I do think people will be quick to point out the similarities between this and Iron Prince. That’s true in a lot of ways from the world building to the progression system. I do enjoy it here more then I did in Iron Prince though. I like the emphasis on Gamma frequencies just because of how fresh it felt, in concept and execution (concentration under stressful situations is something fun that I can’t believe I haven’t seen explored before). My theory is Charoen will start off as a Opfern, then become a Jaeger before becoming his teams mörderin. They mentioned that mörderin’s are normally women but I hope they change that for him. I think that progressions through the different positions on the team is fun cause not only does it show him getting stronger but it also gives a chance to see and experience a different aspect of the game the more he advances. The powers and abilities themselves are cool but I probably would have preferred each character have their own unique abilities like Iron Prince and Bastion instead of the uniform abilities that everyone gets access to. I get how it makes more sense in this setting though.

Cons:

Small Disclaimer: So normally I wouldn’t like a story like this because I’m usually not a fan of sports competition series. I prefer high stakes kill or be kill stories. It’s the reason I never liked Iron prince as much as everyone else or any of the many sports manga out there(including stuff like Boxing and MMA series). I just usually like it when characters are fighting for their lives rather then in a competition. Phil offsets a lot of that by tieing the game to the MC’s emotional desires and motivations, as well as making it so people actually do get hurt and can die in the games.

That does lead me to my only real complaint. I never could reconcile the whole “to the death” aspect of the game. It just seems weird that people are swinging actual weapons, trying to kill each other but there aren’t more deaths overall and that people are so ok with that. Iron Prince has the whole Phantom Call thing and this series itself have the technology for solid simulations and holograms yet they don’t use that for the games. The books explains that the medical technology is so advanced that they can bring people back from the brink of death but that still feels awkward and hand wavey. If someone gets their head cut off or impaled through the face then no amount of medical technology should help with that. In the heat of battle I don’t see how that’s not a more common occurrence when dealing with super humans. It struck me as odd, needlessly barbaric and a tad bit unrealistic. Though again it did help with stakes and tension.

Overall the book was fun, fast paced, action heavy with some cool ideas and worldbuilding. Definitely recommend for fans of Iron Prince.

[Alec N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Setting and Plot:
This book is set in the far future of 2442. We don’t see a lot of the wider world, but it’s clear that while technology has advanced dramatically, living conditions for the average person have decreased dramatically as well. Charoen (Char-aeon) and his sister are living in Oslo in a refugee camp when they are recruited by a mysterious rich dude to play on his new Krieg Chess team full of rejects and second chancers. Oh yeah it turns out their father was one of the best players ever, but they weren’t close growing up. The siblings are given implants that allow their physical attributes to grow to superhuman levels, and manifest powers and abilities on par with comic book heroes. They’ll need to grow their abilities quickly to win a fast approaching game of Krieg Chess that will determine their future.

Tone and Pacing:
This is a more serious book, there were a few humorous moments, mainly by the supporting cast, but they were few and far between. We’re instead facing a cast of scarred and traumatized people trying to claw their way into the professional sporting world. The tidbits that we hear about the rest of the world set a rather bleak backdrop as well. However, to contrast this more serious tone, the stakes of this book are rather low, especially when compared to many other fantasy novels. They are playing a sport, and while it is brutal and there is a risk of death or lasting injuries, the risk to our characters seems low. There are some plot points throughout the book that make me anticipate that the stakes might ramp up as the series progresses, but for now the fights are explicitly not life and death.

The pacing is good, with most of the slow periods being focused upon training and progressing the characters abilities. I didn’t feel that the story was rushed and was happy at the speed the author set.

Characters:
The main character Charoen is a brooding protagonist who is coming to terms with himself and what he wants to do throughout the book. His sister Jessie, on the other hand, is more energetic and outgoing, and is generally ready to dive headfirst into the Krieg Chess world. This contrasts fairly well, and allows the siblings to interact with the rest of the team in unique and interesting ways. Charoen has good reason to be in his head, but some of his actions and dialog came across as childish and immature. Think similar to some of the complaints about Iron Prince conversations. This seems to be cleared up mostly by the time the book ends, and I don’t expect it to continue going forward. Instead we get to enjoy character growth, something that is oftentimes lacking in books about progression. 😬

The rest of the cast feels vibrant with a myriad of personalities, motivations, and backstories. They all interact differently with the main characters and don’t feel like a hive mind during conversations. I enjoyed trying to figure out their motivations throughout my readthrough.

Progression System:
The progression system in this series reminds me of the Iron Prince books. There are a number of physical stats that are given letter/number grades such as F9, E2, etc. Outside of this small list, there is no big stat screens or ability pages to read. Instead there is a lot of emphasis on the training sessions and workouts they are doing, and the mental endurance needed to push through pain and rigorous exercises. The stats are just there in the background to track their progress for you. In games, the letter grades come into play more, as there are significant differences between tiers, which makes for a somewhat hard scaling system. There are abilities that are unlocked by moving up a tier, but at least in this first book, these did not need a stat screen, and were easy to remember and understand. The progression felt natural to me and it seemed easy to quantify and understand when someone should advance.

Action:
The action takes place on the field, as you would expect in a sports setting. The matches are fast paced and fun to read, both in training bouts and in real games. The different pieces and their utilities are fun to strategize around, and see how they match up. I’ll be excited to see more of this in the next book. I especially enjoyed the first game that Charoen plays and getting to experience the thrill, chaos, fear, and adrenaline with the characters.

I also enjoy that, because the stakes are not life and death, you can have the mc lose without having to pull a deus ex machina out of your back pocket to keep him alive. This provides more tension in the book, even without the fear of death hanging over the protagonist.

Overall:
I really enjoyed this book. I give it a 4.7 out of 5. If I would have had the time to do so I would have read it in one sitting. I can’t wait for the next one to come out, and lucky for everyone, the second book is slated to come out in March of this year! Which is great news.

Extra:
I posted a review video that contains a bit more on the book, specifically on how Krieg Chess works. The rest of the review is very similar to what I’ve written above. If you’d rather watch then read then check it out here: https://youtu.be/z5trIuCqoQ0 :)

[Jimmit Shah · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Phil Tucker's "Gods of the Game," readers are thrust into a world where the age-old game of chess takes on a stunningly visceral and deadly form. Imagine being more than just a player, but an actual piece on the board, navigating treacherous terrains and facing hidden dangers at every turn. Tucker's ingenious twist on this classic game premise introduces us to 32 humans, each embodying the abilities of the chess pieces they represent.

While the concept itself is undeniably intriguing, reminiscent of J.K. Rowling's brief foray into human chess in her wizarding world, Tucker crafts a narrative that stands out on its own merits. The incorporation of lethal technology that evolves alongside the players' proficiency adds a thrilling layer of complexity to the already high-stakes game.

However, despite the promising premise and Tucker's adept world-building skills, "Gods of the Game" falters when it comes to its characters. While they may possess extraordinary abilities within the confines of the game, they lack the depth and authenticity necessary to truly captivate readers. Unlike Bryce O'Connors' "Warmformed Stormweaver" series, where characters feel vividly alive, Tucker's cast falls short of evoking genuine empathy or interest.

Nevertheless, for fans of science fiction and immersive world-building, "Gods of the Game" offers an exhilarating journey into a realm where strategy and survival converge in unexpected ways. Despite its shortcomings in character development, Tucker's "Gods of the Game" series promises a thrilling adventure for those willing to embark on this unique chess-inspired odyssey.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, a book I could not put down. I literally finished it in a supermarket parking lot. Phil Tucker is one of my favorite authors and Krieg Chess is a story I have not read before. It's not a video game, nor is it fantasy - it's almost both not also not either.

It starts with a brother and sister living in a dystopian world, struggling to survive. What holds society together is Krieg Chess, where anyone can become a star - think Gladiators (but Science Fiction). The brother and sister clearly have skills with an insane backstory.

Very quickly, both are recruited to play Krieg Chess - which uses people as violent chess pieces with superhuman strength AND healing. Literally, their guts are yanked out but medical bots bring them back from death. The brother wants nothing to do with the game but his sister sees it as a way out of squalor.

Even though the brother hates Krieg Chess, he is made to play this game. His sister is also talented but unlike her brother, loves the game. As in books like this, both must fight their personal demons. As the story continues, the brother proves to be a prodigy but he is his worst enemy. His journey to unlock these his abilities are incredible and inspirational.

The ending is not a surprise, but the twists and journey make the ride amazing. Highly recommend. Please note, I am on Phil's ARC team and received this copy for an unbiased review. I pay for 90% of Phil's books and would have happily paid for Krieg Chess were I non his ARC team.

[Fritz · Rating 4 out of 5]

For others that dislike LitRPGs, don't let the title fool you. It claims to be a LitRPG but there's very little in the way of stats and skills thankfully It's similar to Iron Prince, where individuals have rankings for their attributes but it's somewhat arbitrary and feels natural.

I love Bastion and was excited to see Phil put out a new story. This one is much smaller in scope, only planned to be a trilogy. The book is fairly short compared to most progression fantasy as well, under 400 pages. It's full of action and does not let up so expect to be pulled in.

This book was very enjoyable. Normally I'm not a fan of stories that seemingly have very few stakes. In this case, the story surrounds a game played for entertainment. No one is likely to die so a loss is just that, a loss in essentially a sports game. However, I was able to get over it pretty quickly and able to enjoy it for what it was.

The first half of the book reminded me of Rage of Dragons. You have a MC who has had some awful things happen to him. Then, he finds an avenue to vent his anger at the world and his place in it through training. I absolutely love this trope and wish it was done more. However, halfway through the book this comes to a halt unfortunately. I much prefer the lone-wolf style of MC that Charoen was in the first half. The second half was still good (the final fight was especially awesome) but I still found myself missing the ferocity that the MC channeled in the first half.

All-in-all, it was a great read and you should definitely read it out asap.

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phil has again created a new world for us to enjoy with an extremely readable and engaging new series.

The world building is not stressed as the focal point of this series, but rather hinted at so the reader can draw some conclusions as to the events that brought humanity to this point. While I'm a fan of a deep historical treatise on the "what happened last episode" approach to series-writing, I appreciate the author's decision to move us along to the current events and keep that pace. This results in a very smooth page-turner that doesn't run into rough patches.

I think one of the more interesting and challenging aspects was actually creating the concept for the events (game) occurring in this world. It's definitely intriguing to have a relatable concept (chess) with the alterations made to bring a whole new approach to life, along with strategies and counter-strategies. This, in itself, was worth the read. Additionally, we have strong character development and a number of plots/subplots that keep things working on multiple levels.

I read of a lot of Phil Tucker, and I really find myself looking forward to the next one in this series. I think he's absolutely a rising star and look forward to the next book. As a bonus, Phil is a super prolific writer, so we typically are gifted with the next chapter at a rapid pace. This is often under-appreciated in a writer, so again, I recommend the story and the author - check out his other works as well!

[Jessica Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a bloody and brutal ride and I am absolutely ready for the rest of the series.

The world building in this story is all very brutal and paints a bleak outlook on things which really sets the tone for the combat. While the game the story revolves around is based on Chess it feels more like chess meets football meets old fashioned gladiatorial combat with future age weapons and leaning heavily on the miracle of some incredible medical technology. Strategy is important, but so is being able to cut open your opponent’s body cavity, which makes the action a bit higher stakes than most other games I known of.

I love a story where the main character gets to grow into themselves and Charoen certainly has some growing to do. Between treating his younger sister like a younger sister and getting over some self loathing and conflicting emotions about his place on this new team and the game he supposedly hates, the story becomes an emotional roller coaster of ups and downs.

And what a roller coaster. The story starts and doesn’t stop until the end with very little filler despite having several very charming side characters that I can’t wait to see more of. Overall an exciting read that still left me wanting more

[MrG LikesBooks&Booze · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concept the book centers around is interesting. A game that is part chess, part American football, and part team based arena combat. The characters are a little shallow so far, but there is clearly room for them to grow. The relationship between the two main characters, a brother and sister duo named Charoen and Jessie, is complicated and helps move the story along. Having siblings the combination of love, rivalry, concern, and irritation felt natural.
The book primarily focuses on the creation of the team and the initial training. There is definitely a lot of potential, and having read other works by Mr. Tucker, I am excited to see where this story can go.
Also, looking up the meaning of the positions in german gave a little more meaning and flavor to things. The names are interesting and powerful without knowing the meanings of the words, but knowing them definitely added a layer to the story.
The actual "game play" was fast paced, interesting, and engaging.
I'm excited to see how the characters develop, and what might "roster changes" may occur as the story progresses.
I'll be looking forward to march when book 2 is released.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Krieg Chess is the start of a series by Phil Tucker. I liked his other LitRPG books/series, but this one just doesn't do it for me. For the most part, I think it's the system used in this one, plus quite a few errors in the story where higher levels are mistaken for lower ones. I think the author confused himself with the rating system, because at one point he said an f1 could defeat a whole team of e1 players. (it's supposed to be the other way round, e1 is a higher rank than f1. There's other slip ups too, so that made the story a bit confusing, until I got the ranks nailed down. Plus, this one is entirely based on a game that is kind of similar to the game Richard Raul played for Emporer Jagang in the wizard's first rule series. If you're a LitRPG fan, and heavily into sports, this one may appeal to you, but for me, this one was a bit of a task to get through. I'm not likely to read more in this series.

[Edozack95 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that I really enjoyed this book.
Since I read Iron Prince in 2020 (if I remember correctly) I've been looking for something that gave me those same vibes for a long time. I absolutely don't disdain a classic fantasy setting, but finding something more Sci-fi in combination with the Progression fantasy genre is difficult to say the least. Finally, however, I found it.
The biggest strengths of this book as far as I'm concerned are:
1) Dynamic action scenes that often involve multiple characters (this violent version of chess is truly intriguing).
2) Like any good Progression Fantasy, the training and the way the characters rise in rank.
3) The fact that it is not a gigantic book but a read of around 400 pages and that I managed to devour in just 3 days.
4) The mystery that surrounds one of our protagonists' parents, I won't say more because doing so would be a spoiler.

P.S.
A fifth point in his favor is that the sequel comes out in March and I can't wait to read it.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5* rounded up. Really solid book. It is the closest book to Iron Prince that I've ever read (a compliment!), but with a game that mixes chess and football (soccer). It's really fast paced, and there is a huge focus on progression. The main characters were also interesting and well developed (though I was confused by the gamma fluctuations in certain characters).

I've never quite jived with this author's writing style, but it is high quality enough to get the point across. The only weakness is in the world building. There were some internal inconsistencies with the rank/league names. It's also very unclear what the role of Krieg Chess is in the larger world. Overall, this story would have benefited from another round of edits and some more pages dedicated to explaining the stakes and the world.

This is a series that I see getting better and better with each book. Can't wait for the release in March!

[Garrett Bibb · Rating 5 out of 5]

SciFi/Progression Fantasy meets the Bad News Bears

My title for this oversimplifies the narrative, obviously, but it’s a good one liner for what you’d be getting into. Absolutely loved the book and I cannot wait for the coming sequels.

Tucker has always been amazing at painting mental pictures, and this book is no exception. The characters and their emotional motivations were clear and well thought out, and the overarching plot (while at times predictable, but what story isn’t from time to time?) maintained several surprises and incredibly rewarding payoffs throughout.

Can’t recommend this enough, and I also implore you to read his Immortal Great Souls series, the Chronicles of the Black Gate series, and the Dawn of the Void trilogy. You’ll never be disappointed and will want to thank me when you do.

[Nickolas Stathakis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Krieg Chess ARC Review
This book is a very solid first entry to a very promising series. This book really reminds me of the Stormweaver series by Bryce O'Connor, with the added polish that I have come to expect in Phils works.
The story manages to build tension and release at just the right moments! with flashy and fluid fighting scenes and moments emotional enough to shake you, it is definitely worth a read.
With only few gripes, not having a clear picture of what the roles of the war game are and a questionable romance(?) scene at the later parts of the book. This book manages to add itself to the very small list of scifi I enjoy.

Cannot wait for the second installment or whatever else Phil throws our way.

[Sonny Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is decent, but it has its shortcomings. One notable drawback is the lack of character depth, and the characters' reasoning often comes across as shallow. However, these issues weren't significant enough to deter me from finishing the book. I'm inclined to give the next ones in the series a chance to see how the story unfolds.

Another area where the book falls short is in its worldbuilding. It leaves readers with little understanding of why the sport depicted in the story exists or what role it plays in society. The broader world remains largely unexplored, and if you were to ask me questions about anything beyond the main character, I would likely have no answers because the book provides little information on these aspects.

[Adam Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both very similar and yet vastly apart

So the cover gives away immediately that this book is using a very similar premise to Iron Prince, and indeed the league’s of professional combat teams is similar. Combined with the superhuman aspect and the glowing armor/weapons you can see immedate strong similarities.

Where things diverge is in the details: this world is a dystopian nightmare of clones and organ harvesting with huge ghettos. The combat is bloody and produces real injuries and death, and the details on how the enhancement process works is much more detailed.

I enjoyed the story quite a bit, and the various plot lines were all really well managed I felt. This one is also going to be quicker in the power progression I feel than Iron Prince.

[Jacques · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first instalment in this new world, and expect the world building to expand dramatically as the team competes in the various Krieg Chess leagues. As with all Phil’s books, I always love and hate the MC equally. This is also the case with Krieg Chess where the MC makes decisions that can be related to, but are equally frustrating as it inevitably leads to undesired outcomes. The world is both apocalyptic and futuristic which allows the premise of Krieg Chess to be very different from other progression series (LitRPG), making it feel more realistic. Looking forward to next instalment already to see where Charoen and Jessie’s journeys lead.

[Reading Hag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding and interesting

Another excellent book. Phil never disappoints! He really excels at the LitRPG genre. Who am I kidding. I have never read a book by him that I didn’t absolutely love. Such an interesting take on common themes. Sci-fi, progression fantasy, and sports. He creates worlds like none other. He pays great attention to detail, I am anxiously awaiting book 2 to see what Charoen and Jesse get up to. This brother/sister duo are very endearing. Facing challenges and struggles together. Encouraging one another to excel in the face of adversity. Definitely check this book out and all of his others. You will not be disappointed.

[Njabulo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Krieg Chess by Phil Tucker presents a somewhat lighter narrative than one might typically anticipate from Tucker's works. Despite its less dense composition, it maintains its merit as an engaging read. A notable aspect of the novel is the protagonist's unexpected transformation, a bold move that adds an intriguing twist, especially considering this is the series' inaugural book.

While there are a few minor issues, they hardly detract from the overall enjoyment of the novel. The setting, in particular, stands out, offering a captivating backdrop to the unfolding story. I'm genuinely curious to see how Tucker develops the plot and characters in the forthcoming installments of this series.

[ROBERT R · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading, I thought “okay, another Hunger Games type of story. That impression didn’t last very long and was replaced with “feels more like Running Man.” It’s neither. The plot line is somewhat predictable but there are enough twists and turns so that you can’t quite predict what Charoen and Jessie will come up against next. Just when you think you got it figured out, there’s a new wrinkle. There’s some backstory about their father but not too much. In fact just enough to make me wonder what his story is. Overall, a good read that was tough to put down. I was so taken into the Krieg Chess world that I was even dreaming Krieg Chess strategy!

[Amber Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual from Phil Tucker this is snappily written, quality fiction in the numbers go up (with associated character development) genre.

Lots of unique world building that left me hungry for more - we get a glimpse of a future where a lot has changed, but for the first book we are clinging tight to Charoen and Jessie's limited view.

It's a fast paced, easy read, perfect for keeping your nose to the screen until it's finished. Has strong Iron Prince vibes if you are looking for a recent series to compare to.

[Mary Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book as an ARC copy. I didn't enjoy it. It was never clear what krieg chess is to me. I kinda pictured a live action chess game (minus actual chess moves), combined with football (endzones?), and possible disembowelment.

Character growth was minimal. I never connected to the characters. Never. The ones I might have connected with I wasn't given reason to.

It just didn't seem well thought out. I forced myself to read the book because that's the deal -- but I really didn't want to.

[Mircea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

A lot of comparisons to the Iron Prince but personally I found this one more innovative. The style of battle and characters are all engaging and realistic. I would have liked a little more historical context which is mostly hinted at, but it doesn't take that much from the story focuses a lot on this team and how it comes together. Give it a try you would be surprised

[HDCharles · Rating 1 out of 5]

This series had so much potential. With the success of Iron Prince a book with a similar combat system and battles but focused on team competitions with different players operating with powers aligned with chess pieces is such a compelling idea. The execution is completely miserable though. The MC's motivation throughout the entire book is all over the place and the whole romance thing was super weird and off-putting. Feels like there was an awesome story here but this wasn't it.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great hit from Phil Tucker

A fun and action filled sci fi novel that was great to read. A couple of the world building choices certainly confused me since they didn’t make sense lore wise (locked in abilities), but the rest of the book had me wondering more about this world around Krieg Chess.

[Chitalu Andrew Kabalika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal

Everything I wished the Stormweaver series was. Phil Tucker just cannot miss! Pulse pounding and seat gripping tension non-stop from start to finish.

Throw in complex emotional drama and some vicious combat and you have yourself a masterpiece in the making.

Looking forward to the sequel!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Battle chess. Think Rollerball meets litRPG. Enjoyed the setting. Enjoyed the brother/sister relationship. Enjoyed the companionship and competitiveness between team players. Enjoyed that the team has a manager who is playing his own game on a different level than the players. Am a bit concerned that Phil Tucker has so many different series and have a feeling this one might get left behind.

[Pierson Brownell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Phil Tucker's work and Krieg Chess did not disappoint. This book only scratched the surface of the world and characters but still did not allow me to put it down with how fast paced and interesting it was. I can't wait to see where the series goes from here.

[Laeth George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal

Another great series by Phil Tucker! For anyone who is a fan of the Stormweaver series by Bryce O’Connor, I would highly recommend this one. I read it start to finish in one sitting—couldn’t stop. Eagerly awaiting book 2!

[Nicholas Soileau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic start to a new series

Phil does it again. This is the 3rd series from his that I’ve read, and I might like it the best. Super interesting concept. Great characters. My only issue is that it ended too quick. Hurry up March, I need book 2!

[Annette Wilmot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional as always

As expected, another great book from Mr Tucker. Action packed, fast paced and great depth to the characters. Can't wait for the next book, and Phil the kind soul that he is knew that and already has the next one lined up for release soon