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Die Spiele der Unsterblichen
Lasst die Spiele beginnen!
Seit die 16-jährige Ara ihre Schwester durch die Spiele der Unsterblichen verloren hat, sinnt sie auf Rache. Mit dem aufgehenden Blutmond stehen nun die nächsten Spiele kurz bevor – ein Kampf ums Überleben für die ausgewählten Menschen, reines Vergnügen für die Götter des Olymps. Ara hofft, für Zeus antreten zu dürfen, doch das Schicksal hat seine eigenen Pläne. Sie wird von Hades erwählt, der ganz anders ist als erwartet. Unzählige gefährliche Prüfungen warten nun auf Ara, während der Gott der Unterwelt sie immer stärker in seinen Bann zieht …
Griechische Mythologie trifft auf Slow-Burn-Romance in diesem fesselnden Fantasy-Stand-Alone
Die Tribute von Panem trifft auf Percy Jackson in dieser mitreißenden Jugendfantasy rund um griechische Götter, tödliche Spiele und eine starke Protagonistin, die nach Rache sinnt. Die Spiele der Unsterblichen von Annaliese Avery begeistert mit einer Slow-Burn-Romance, mythologischen Kreaturen und einer bewegenden Geschichte über Verlust, Familie, Selbstfindung und Liebe. Für alle Leser*innen ab 13 Jahren.
Seit die 16-jährige Ara ihre Schwester durch die Spiele der Unsterblichen verloren hat, sinnt sie auf Rache. Mit dem aufgehenden Blutmond stehen nun die nächsten Spiele kurz bevor – ein Kampf ums Überleben für die ausgewählten Menschen, reines Vergnügen für die Götter des Olymps. Ara hofft, für Zeus antreten zu dürfen, doch das Schicksal hat seine eigenen Pläne. Sie wird von Hades erwählt, der ganz anders ist als erwartet. Unzählige gefährliche Prüfungen warten nun auf Ara, während der Gott der Unterwelt sie immer stärker in seinen Bann zieht …
Griechische Mythologie trifft auf Slow-Burn-Romance in diesem fesselnden Fantasy-Stand-Alone
Die Tribute von Panem trifft auf Percy Jackson in dieser mitreißenden Jugendfantasy rund um griechische Götter, tödliche Spiele und eine starke Protagonistin, die nach Rache sinnt. Die Spiele der Unsterblichen von Annaliese Avery begeistert mit einer Slow-Burn-Romance, mythologischen Kreaturen und einer bewegenden Geschichte über Verlust, Familie, Selbstfindung und Liebe. Für alle Leser*innen ab 13 Jahren.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 11, 2023
126 people are currently reading
7134 people want to read
About the author
Annaliese Avery
11 books104 followersAnnaliese Avery is a former library manager and children's book editor who lives in Suffolk, England. She has an MA in creative writing and a life long interest in physics and astronomy and in 2017 she founded an astronomical society.
Her MG debut, The Nightsilver Promise, is published by Scholastic UK in May 2020 and Scholastic US in November 2021. The Nightsilver Promise is the first book in the epic Celestial Mechanism Cycle.
Twitter: @AnnalieseAvery
Instagram: @AnnalieseAvery
Her MG debut, The Nightsilver Promise, is published by Scholastic UK in May 2020 and Scholastic US in November 2021. The Nightsilver Promise is the first book in the epic Celestial Mechanism Cycle.
Twitter: @AnnalieseAvery
Instagram: @AnnalieseAvery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 416 reviews
dnf
May 31, 2023dnf @ page 73
- It's looking like Hades is the main love interest? Are we just forgetting about Persephone??
- Hades looks like a teenage boy because of course he does
- Hades is a pacifist who refuses to be even tangentially responsible for hurting someone and so refuses to give Ara anything she can actually use to defend herself in these games which routinely kill the majority of its players. Hades being that much of a pacifist simply does not ring true for me
- Also Hades gets roped into Zeus and Poseidon's rivalry because... it would be incomplete without Hades' involvement? Bestie if you don't care about their fighting you don't have to join in. I'm reasonably sure that's the standard version of Hades' whole thing
- There are simply no excuses anymore for making your fantasy novel world building rely on binary gender
- The writing needs another round of edits
- Basically this is trying to be The Hunger Games meets Greek mythology but is doing such a questionable job at the Greek mythology part that I no longer have any desire to stick around for the rest of it
- It's looking like Hades is the main love interest? Are we just forgetting about Persephone??
- Hades looks like a teenage boy because of course he does
- Hades is a pacifist who refuses to be even tangentially responsible for hurting someone and so refuses to give Ara anything she can actually use to defend herself in these games which routinely kill the majority of its players. Hades being that much of a pacifist simply does not ring true for me
- Also Hades gets roped into Zeus and Poseidon's rivalry because... it would be incomplete without Hades' involvement? Bestie if you don't care about their fighting you don't have to join in. I'm reasonably sure that's the standard version of Hades' whole thing
- There are simply no excuses anymore for making your fantasy novel world building rely on binary gender
- The writing needs another round of edits
- Basically this is trying to be The Hunger Games meets Greek mythology but is doing such a questionable job at the Greek mythology part that I no longer have any desire to stick around for the rest of it
May 8, 2023
There’s nothing I like better than when books are likened to the Hunger Games and Percy Jackson and so I went into this one with quite high expectations… and those expectations were met and exceeded. I absolutely LOVED this book. I loved how all the characters were portrayed in the book, but I think the one I loved the most was Theron, aka the wannabe God. That numbskull really had too much hubris and needed taking down a peg or twelve.
Ara shone the most for me in this one though as she went in with a solid game plan, and all the best plans who motivated by revenge so yay, and showed that she was an absolute force to be reckoned with. If you liked Lore, the Hunger Games, Percy Jackson or most other classic YA books then you should definitely give this one a read.
Thank you to Scholastic for sending me a copy of this one.
Ara shone the most for me in this one though as she went in with a solid game plan, and all the best plans who motivated by revenge so yay, and showed that she was an absolute force to be reckoned with. If you liked Lore, the Hunger Games, Percy Jackson or most other classic YA books then you should definitely give this one a read.
Thank you to Scholastic for sending me a copy of this one.
June 9, 2023
I love Greek mythology, I love the Hunger Games, so this was just a no-brainer for me. I was expecting just a really fun read, considering the small amount of pages for such an action packed story, but the book went to surprising depths with the characters!
I loved that the group had little rivalry; this really made it stand more apart from the Hunger Games and added a bit of wholesomeness to an otherwise messed up story.
The story moves really quickly, which keeps you interested, but does take away from the emotional impact just a little.
Great read, 4.5 stars!
I loved that the group had little rivalry; this really made it stand more apart from the Hunger Games and added a bit of wholesomeness to an otherwise messed up story.
The story moves really quickly, which keeps you interested, but does take away from the emotional impact just a little.
Great read, 4.5 stars!
July 20, 2025
this took me EIGHT months to finish🥱 the pacing is off, the plot fills like filler and random stuff the author added just because she felt like it…characters are unmemorable and overall I was just bored :[
July 10, 2023
I am begging for a good greek mythology book. First Ithaca, now this? Why is hades, the god of the dead, ruler of the underworld, the oldest of all the gods, some soppy teenage wannabe emo that immediately fall in love with this 17 year old girl?
Its hunger games meets Percy Jackson in concept, but far far from it in execution. Think about the plot for more than a single second and it crumbles. The whole zodiac thing was absolutely irrelevant, the rolling dice thing, absolutely irrelevant, the trials were simply there as a method of killing off characters that were superfluous, aka all of them, and I’ve seen more character development in a 60 second TikTok skit.
The writing is incredibly juvenile and the ending was bizarre.
And then me being nit picky about the myths - first of all, Apollo is not, and never has been responsible for the dawn, Hades is literally the oldest god and instead he looks the youngest? Athena says about 4 things and 3 of them are fucking stupid. Persephone apparently does not exist in this universe, and there’s a token called Danae despite Cassiopeia having existed which means its canon that Perseus and thus his mother must have been alive and yet no one comments on her name one jot? And Ajax is just chilling?
My only positive is that it was very fast paced so was over quickly.
Its hunger games meets Percy Jackson in concept, but far far from it in execution. Think about the plot for more than a single second and it crumbles. The whole zodiac thing was absolutely irrelevant, the rolling dice thing, absolutely irrelevant, the trials were simply there as a method of killing off characters that were superfluous, aka all of them, and I’ve seen more character development in a 60 second TikTok skit.
The writing is incredibly juvenile and the ending was bizarre.
And then me being nit picky about the myths - first of all, Apollo is not, and never has been responsible for the dawn, Hades is literally the oldest god and instead he looks the youngest? Athena says about 4 things and 3 of them are fucking stupid. Persephone apparently does not exist in this universe, and there’s a token called Danae despite Cassiopeia having existed which means its canon that Perseus and thus his mother must have been alive and yet no one comments on her name one jot? And Ajax is just chilling?
My only positive is that it was very fast paced so was over quickly.
August 9, 2023
Can someone please enlighten me, what was the point of this book?
November 9, 2025
might not be the best thing I’ve ever read, but I am pleasantly surprised!! It's well written and the plot, although simple, was nicely developed. When it comes to the romance, at first I wasn’t really sure how to feel about it, but the end made everything come full circle and I ended up really appreciating it. The main characters had cute moments together throughout the story and, since the book was unpredictable and leaned more into being fast paced, it was an entertaining read
August 8, 2023
This filled the hunger games hole in my heart 🤌🏻
The hunger games x Greek mythology
Really easy to read, fast paced and well developed characters! Would have liked a little more angst between the main romance but nonetheless I was rooting for it,
Highly rec this if you’re looking for something to break a reading slump!
The hunger games x Greek mythology
Really easy to read, fast paced and well developed characters! Would have liked a little more angst between the main romance but nonetheless I was rooting for it,
Highly rec this if you’re looking for something to break a reading slump!
May 12, 2023
The Immortal Games is now one of my favourite greek mythology books. It's clever, surprising and unique. I loved the main character Ara, and the surprising twist of Hades.
Not everything is as it seems in this book and it kept me guessing throughout. I loved the descriptions of the world and powers of the gods. There's so much thought that has gone into the plot, and I found it to be really strong and addicting.
At first I was comparing it to The Hunger Games, as they're all representing a god and trying to win The Immortal Games. But the friendship and strength that develops between all the mortals gave it such a different tone. I loved all of the tokens and each character held a special place in my heart.
There's also a romance side to this book and I was here for every second. The more we find out about Hades the more I was swooning along with Ara! Everyone has the misconception that he would be dark and cold, but he's actually the opposite of that and I loved that we got to see things from his point of view too.
To me The Immortal Games is a book about hope. Ara is after revenge, but her character development throughout shows so much growth and I really enjoyed going on the journey with her. There are so many different aspects to this which I loved. From the added wager between gods, to learning about the threads of life.
Overall, I think it's clear I loved this one. I would have loved to read an epilogue though!
Not everything is as it seems in this book and it kept me guessing throughout. I loved the descriptions of the world and powers of the gods. There's so much thought that has gone into the plot, and I found it to be really strong and addicting.
At first I was comparing it to The Hunger Games, as they're all representing a god and trying to win The Immortal Games. But the friendship and strength that develops between all the mortals gave it such a different tone. I loved all of the tokens and each character held a special place in my heart.
There's also a romance side to this book and I was here for every second. The more we find out about Hades the more I was swooning along with Ara! Everyone has the misconception that he would be dark and cold, but he's actually the opposite of that and I loved that we got to see things from his point of view too.
To me The Immortal Games is a book about hope. Ara is after revenge, but her character development throughout shows so much growth and I really enjoyed going on the journey with her. There are so many different aspects to this which I loved. From the added wager between gods, to learning about the threads of life.
Overall, I think it's clear I loved this one. I would have loved to read an epilogue though!
September 18, 2023
I can tell this book was going for the Hunger Games meets Percy Jackson, but it just fell flat in every aspect. Our main character, Ara, wants to become a token in 'the Immortal Games', where the Greek Gods choose mortals to represent them in a dangerous quest, due to her sisters death in said games five years earlier. Her goal- kill Zeus. How? Not sure.
She ultimately gets picked by Hades, who 'isn't like the other Gods' and behaves more like a 17 year old boy. Oh, and Persephone is nowhere to be seen. We have a direct copy of the Gail and Peeta love triangle with Hades as Peeta and Gail as Theron, the love interest from back home who randomly turns evil two thirds into the book.
All the other characters just serve to be killed off before having any development, making their deaths feel meaningless and repetitive. The romance doesn't so much 'develop', Hades just randomly falls in love with this 17 year old girl for no apparent reason.
Oh, and remember her wanting to kill Zeus to avenge her sister? She briefly meets her sister in a vision, who asks her not to kill Zeus, so it's never mentioned again.
And to add insult to this rushed ending, Hades says he'll just make her a God when she fancies it, to which she says yeah sure, the end.
The most poorly written YA book I have had the misfortune to come across- read Lore instead. Or just Percy Jackson.
She ultimately gets picked by Hades, who 'isn't like the other Gods' and behaves more like a 17 year old boy. Oh, and Persephone is nowhere to be seen. We have a direct copy of the Gail and Peeta love triangle with Hades as Peeta and Gail as Theron, the love interest from back home who randomly turns evil two thirds into the book.
All the other characters just serve to be killed off before having any development, making their deaths feel meaningless and repetitive. The romance doesn't so much 'develop', Hades just randomly falls in love with this 17 year old girl for no apparent reason.
Oh, and remember her wanting to kill Zeus to avenge her sister? She briefly meets her sister in a vision, who asks her not to kill Zeus, so it's never mentioned again.
And to add insult to this rushed ending, Hades says he'll just make her a God when she fancies it, to which she says yeah sure, the end.
The most poorly written YA book I have had the misfortune to come across- read Lore instead. Or just Percy Jackson.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2025
„Die Spiele der Unsterblichen“ ist ein Einzelband welcher unter 400 Seiten umfasst. Es ist ein jugendliches Fantasy-Buch inspiriert von der griechischen Mythologie rund um die Gottheiten des Olymps und deren Grausamkeit den Menschen gegenüber.
Alle Paar Jahre findet ein Wettkampf statt, den die Götter zu ihrem Vergnügen veranstalten. Ein jeder von ihnen sucht sich unter den Menschen einen Spieler oder eine Spielerin aus, um ihn oder sie für sich antreten zu lassen. Für die Götter ist dies nur ein Spiel, für ihre Spieler geht es um alles.
Unsere Protagonistin Ara nimmt voll Rache getrieben an den Spielen teil und tretet für Hades an, den Gott der Unterwelt. Während ihrer gemeinsamen Zeit, stellt sich heraus, dass Hades gar nicht der grausame dunkle Herrscher ist, für den ihn alle halten. Er besitzt ein weiches Herz und ist der gütigste unter den Göttern, was schließlich dazu führt, dass er und Ara sich näher kommen.
Die Autorin hat gute Arbeit geleistet die Götter so darzustellen wie in den antiken Sagen, nämlich grausam und egoistisch. Sie scheren sich nicht um die Menschen, vor allem nicht, wenn aus ihnen kein Vorteil gezogen werden kann. Hades' Darstellung ist anders als in anderen Medien dargestellt. Er ist hier ein totaler Softie, der absolut gegen Gewalt und Ungerechtigkeit ist.
Ara ist eine starke Protagonistin. Sie ist motiviert von Rache, bleibt dabei ihren Mitspielern gegenüber immer fair und bildet sogar Allianzen bis hin zu Freundschaften. Es war schön mit anzusehen, wie sich aus den Spielern eine richtige enge Gemeinschaft bildete, umso trauriger war es, dass es natürlich nicht alle bis zum Ende des Spiels lebendig rausschaffen.
Die Herausforderungen, denen sich die Spieler stellen mussten waren sehr gut ausgeklügelt. Sie waren spannend und man war neugierig zu erfahren, wie die Spieler sie überwinden würden.
Der Schreibstil ist wunderbar. Er ist mir sehr positiv in Erinnerung geblieben. Man kann förmlich in die Geschehen eintauchen und alles lebhaft vor Augen sehen.
Was mich nicht gänzlich überzeugen konnte, war die Romantik in diesem Buch. Da ich nichts vorwegnehmen möchte, kann ich nur sagen, dass es mir zu schnell ging.
Trotz, dass es sich hierbei um ein Einzelband mit unter 400 Seiten handelt, hat die Geschichte genug Spannung kreiert um mich unterhalten zu können. Ich hatte viel Spaß beim Lesen.
Alle Paar Jahre findet ein Wettkampf statt, den die Götter zu ihrem Vergnügen veranstalten. Ein jeder von ihnen sucht sich unter den Menschen einen Spieler oder eine Spielerin aus, um ihn oder sie für sich antreten zu lassen. Für die Götter ist dies nur ein Spiel, für ihre Spieler geht es um alles.
Unsere Protagonistin Ara nimmt voll Rache getrieben an den Spielen teil und tretet für Hades an, den Gott der Unterwelt. Während ihrer gemeinsamen Zeit, stellt sich heraus, dass Hades gar nicht der grausame dunkle Herrscher ist, für den ihn alle halten. Er besitzt ein weiches Herz und ist der gütigste unter den Göttern, was schließlich dazu führt, dass er und Ara sich näher kommen.
Die Autorin hat gute Arbeit geleistet die Götter so darzustellen wie in den antiken Sagen, nämlich grausam und egoistisch. Sie scheren sich nicht um die Menschen, vor allem nicht, wenn aus ihnen kein Vorteil gezogen werden kann. Hades' Darstellung ist anders als in anderen Medien dargestellt. Er ist hier ein totaler Softie, der absolut gegen Gewalt und Ungerechtigkeit ist.
Ara ist eine starke Protagonistin. Sie ist motiviert von Rache, bleibt dabei ihren Mitspielern gegenüber immer fair und bildet sogar Allianzen bis hin zu Freundschaften. Es war schön mit anzusehen, wie sich aus den Spielern eine richtige enge Gemeinschaft bildete, umso trauriger war es, dass es natürlich nicht alle bis zum Ende des Spiels lebendig rausschaffen.
Die Herausforderungen, denen sich die Spieler stellen mussten waren sehr gut ausgeklügelt. Sie waren spannend und man war neugierig zu erfahren, wie die Spieler sie überwinden würden.
Der Schreibstil ist wunderbar. Er ist mir sehr positiv in Erinnerung geblieben. Man kann förmlich in die Geschehen eintauchen und alles lebhaft vor Augen sehen.
Was mich nicht gänzlich überzeugen konnte, war die Romantik in diesem Buch. Da ich nichts vorwegnehmen möchte, kann ich nur sagen, dass es mir zu schnell ging.
Trotz, dass es sich hierbei um ein Einzelband mit unter 400 Seiten handelt, hat die Geschichte genug Spannung kreiert um mich unterhalten zu können. Ich hatte viel Spaß beim Lesen.
April 16, 2025
⭐️Bewertung: 3.5 Sterne
Eine gelungene Neuinterpretation der griechischen Mythologie mit Slow Burn für Zwischendurch! Percy Jackson x Hunger Games x Maze Runner
Über den Inhalt:
Seit die 16-jährige Ara ihre Schwester durch die Spiele der Unsterblichen verloren hat, sinnt sie auf Rache. Mit dem aufgehenden Blutmond stehen nun die nächsten Spiele kurz bevor – ein Kampf ums Überleben für die ausgewählten Menschen, reines Vergnügen für die Götter des Olymps. Ara hofft, für Zeus antreten zu dürfen, doch das Schicksal hat seine eigenen Pläne. Sie wird von Hades erwählt, der ganz anders ist als erwartet. Unzählige gefährliche Prüfungen warten nun auf Ara, während der Gott der Unterwelt sie immer stärker in seinen Bann zieht …
Was mir gefallen hat:
- griechische Mythologie (für mich sind Bücher automatisch ein must-read, sobald die Worte „griechische Mythologie“ im Klappentext auftauchen)
- es ist ein Standalone (mal ganz erfrischend für Zwischendurch, da Fantasybücher meistens in einer Reihe kommen)
- durchgehende Spannung, Intrigen und Rätsel
- Neuinterpretation der Götter (jap, ich meine Hades)
Was ich mir gewünscht hätte:
- Slow burn hätte noch ein bisschen slower sein können :)
- mehr Infos am Ende, es bleibt alles ziemlich offen
- Hades wirkte ein wenig zu unreif, die Nebencharaktere wirken zu oberflächlich
Fazit: ein unterhaltsames Jugendbuch über griechische Mythologie mal ganz anders, welches man als eine Mischung aus Percy Jackson und Tribute von Panem und Maze Runner bezeichnen könnte.
Und noch ein kleiner Buchtipp am Rande: wenn dir das Buch gefallen hat, magst du vielleicht auch „The Games Gods Play“ von Abigail Owen!
(Danke an den Verlag und an Netgalley für das Rezensionsexemplar.)
Eine gelungene Neuinterpretation der griechischen Mythologie mit Slow Burn für Zwischendurch! Percy Jackson x Hunger Games x Maze Runner
Über den Inhalt:
Seit die 16-jährige Ara ihre Schwester durch die Spiele der Unsterblichen verloren hat, sinnt sie auf Rache. Mit dem aufgehenden Blutmond stehen nun die nächsten Spiele kurz bevor – ein Kampf ums Überleben für die ausgewählten Menschen, reines Vergnügen für die Götter des Olymps. Ara hofft, für Zeus antreten zu dürfen, doch das Schicksal hat seine eigenen Pläne. Sie wird von Hades erwählt, der ganz anders ist als erwartet. Unzählige gefährliche Prüfungen warten nun auf Ara, während der Gott der Unterwelt sie immer stärker in seinen Bann zieht …
Was mir gefallen hat:
- griechische Mythologie (für mich sind Bücher automatisch ein must-read, sobald die Worte „griechische Mythologie“ im Klappentext auftauchen)
- es ist ein Standalone (mal ganz erfrischend für Zwischendurch, da Fantasybücher meistens in einer Reihe kommen)
- durchgehende Spannung, Intrigen und Rätsel
- Neuinterpretation der Götter (jap, ich meine Hades)
Was ich mir gewünscht hätte:
- Slow burn hätte noch ein bisschen slower sein können :)
- mehr Infos am Ende, es bleibt alles ziemlich offen
- Hades wirkte ein wenig zu unreif, die Nebencharaktere wirken zu oberflächlich
Fazit: ein unterhaltsames Jugendbuch über griechische Mythologie mal ganz anders, welches man als eine Mischung aus Percy Jackson und Tribute von Panem und Maze Runner bezeichnen könnte.
Und noch ein kleiner Buchtipp am Rande: wenn dir das Buch gefallen hat, magst du vielleicht auch „The Games Gods Play“ von Abigail Owen!
(Danke an den Verlag und an Netgalley für das Rezensionsexemplar.)
February 5, 2024
This book… the hunger games with Percy Jackson vibes. Movie Please!
September 18, 2024
Now I get why I usually don’t read stand-alones. rtc 😙
pre-read ⚜️
I’m so excited to start this !! I’ve been getting sm FOMO seeing The Games the Gods Play at Target and reviewers, so I decided to cure it with this similar book: The Immortal Games—Percy Jackson x Hunger Games, and YA.
pre-read ⚜️
I’m so excited to start this !! I’ve been getting sm FOMO seeing The Games the Gods Play at Target and reviewers, so I decided to cure it with this similar book: The Immortal Games—Percy Jackson x Hunger Games, and YA.
September 8, 2023
"Death changes a person, both when you take a life and when you slip from it."
Ratings: 1.5 ⭐️
The Immortal Games is about 17-years-old Ara who wanted to seek vengeance on behalf of her sister, Estella, who died because of a game. She is then chosen to be the token of Hades to compete in the game and later she was tangled up between her feelings and her real mission.
What I love about this book is the concept. Nothing more, nothing less.
When you cramped a YA fantasy plot that primarily focused on game in just 300+ pages, all you get are less tension, less action and poor execution. The execution is so poor that it left nothing but empty space. So the game has these few phases that the competitors have to go through. I felt so terrible that I didn't enjoy every phase of the games that were held AT ALL. Like... the game was told to be brutal and challenging but obviously it didn't feel like it??
I am very much excited that the author tried to create a game involving the Gods of Olympus but why did they discuss the game, especially at the beginning, as if they never experienced it before? Why their motives and discussions seemed incoherent??
Don't get me started on the romance 😭 I knew that the author tried to make Hades as loveable as possible but he's so cringe 😭 The originality of Hades that I have known partially exist and I am so mad about it. There is other book that manage to make Hades a good character so I was upset when this book couldn't. It was painful for me to read the romance scenes 😭 Like, Ara gurlieeeeee you have a game to focus into??? What were you doing 😭
All the characters lack depth with zero development. At some point, I don't even care what's going on with them anymore.
You could try this book if you want but for me there are other books that worth your time to read. Courtesy to @definitelybooks #pansing for sending me this review copy.
Ratings: 1.5 ⭐️
The Immortal Games is about 17-years-old Ara who wanted to seek vengeance on behalf of her sister, Estella, who died because of a game. She is then chosen to be the token of Hades to compete in the game and later she was tangled up between her feelings and her real mission.
What I love about this book is the concept. Nothing more, nothing less.
When you cramped a YA fantasy plot that primarily focused on game in just 300+ pages, all you get are less tension, less action and poor execution. The execution is so poor that it left nothing but empty space. So the game has these few phases that the competitors have to go through. I felt so terrible that I didn't enjoy every phase of the games that were held AT ALL. Like... the game was told to be brutal and challenging but obviously it didn't feel like it??
I am very much excited that the author tried to create a game involving the Gods of Olympus but why did they discuss the game, especially at the beginning, as if they never experienced it before? Why their motives and discussions seemed incoherent??
Don't get me started on the romance 😭 I knew that the author tried to make Hades as loveable as possible but he's so cringe 😭 The originality of Hades that I have known partially exist and I am so mad about it. There is other book that manage to make Hades a good character so I was upset when this book couldn't. It was painful for me to read the romance scenes 😭 Like, Ara gurlieeeeee you have a game to focus into??? What were you doing 😭
All the characters lack depth with zero development. At some point, I don't even care what's going on with them anymore.
You could try this book if you want but for me there are other books that worth your time to read. Courtesy to @definitelybooks #pansing for sending me this review copy.
June 8, 2024
When I discovered this book, I don't even remember where and when and how I discovered it, I was insanely happy. I'm a Greek mythology nerd. I love the Hunger Games and Romantasy is my current addiction. So, I ordered a copy of the book and after I picked it up this week I just had to start reading right away. I mean, the Greek Gods playing some real life game of D&D with real people? There was no way this was not gonna be awesome.
The first few chapters of the book were really promising. I liked the characters and how they were introduced. I liked the rules of the game and the way the candidates were chosen. I really loved that we got to see the damage the game leaves behind once the winner is chosen and the others are most likely dead. I was also really excited when Ara was chosen as one of the players and was only one book away from her revenge.
However, once the games started and once Ara started to interact more and more with Hades I realized the book wasn't really gripping me. It felt like the characters were running from one fight to the other. It felt like the author had tried to put as many cool things into this story as possible. It also felt like everything was rushed and the emotions of the characters were forgotten. I never really connected with the characters and I also never really felt the romance.
And then there was the ending. I of course don't want to give away too many spoilers, in case you still want to read this book, but for some reason it felt like the ending was way too easy. The characters involved forgave way too easily. Promises were made way too easily. In the end it felt like I had read a really nice outline, but one that needed some coloring. Now it's just a really nice concept that never truly delivers.
The first few chapters of the book were really promising. I liked the characters and how they were introduced. I liked the rules of the game and the way the candidates were chosen. I really loved that we got to see the damage the game leaves behind once the winner is chosen and the others are most likely dead. I was also really excited when Ara was chosen as one of the players and was only one book away from her revenge.
However, once the games started and once Ara started to interact more and more with Hades I realized the book wasn't really gripping me. It felt like the characters were running from one fight to the other. It felt like the author had tried to put as many cool things into this story as possible. It also felt like everything was rushed and the emotions of the characters were forgotten. I never really connected with the characters and I also never really felt the romance.
And then there was the ending. I of course don't want to give away too many spoilers, in case you still want to read this book, but for some reason it felt like the ending was way too easy. The characters involved forgave way too easily. Promises were made way too easily. In the end it felt like I had read a really nice outline, but one that needed some coloring. Now it's just a really nice concept that never truly delivers.
October 19, 2023
So I really liked this book, enjoyed the plot and the characters but I do have one grievance... spoiler alert...
I am a Hades and Persephone stan, so I cannot help but be annoyed / disappointed / all of the negative feelings about Hades falling for this Ara chic. The line of 'burning the world' was even used and that's a solid NO from me. He only wants to burn the world for Persephone!
I had hoped at the end of the games or at the end of her mortal life, she would be reborn a goddess and therefore reborn as Persephone. While becoming a goddess was mentioned, I think the author missed a trick here by not confirming she would become Persephone?!?!
I'll stop raving about Hades and Persephone now and wind this up by saying I do reccomend this book 😂.
I am a Hades and Persephone stan, so I cannot help but be annoyed / disappointed / all of the negative feelings about Hades falling for this Ara chic. The line of 'burning the world' was even used and that's a solid NO from me. He only wants to burn the world for Persephone!
I had hoped at the end of the games or at the end of her mortal life, she would be reborn a goddess and therefore reborn as Persephone. While becoming a goddess was mentioned, I think the author missed a trick here by not confirming she would become Persephone?!?!
I'll stop raving about Hades and Persephone now and wind this up by saying I do reccomend this book 😂.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2023
Utterly believable! Totally transported!
I LOVED this book! For someone who has always struggled with Greek Mythology and who isn't an avid fantasy reader, I thought I was going to be in over my head with this epic adventure. But Annaliese brought me into this world with ease and I fell in love with Ara's journey, her need to avenge her sister and of course... Hades!
I just wish there was a sequel!
I LOVED this book! For someone who has always struggled with Greek Mythology and who isn't an avid fantasy reader, I thought I was going to be in over my head with this epic adventure. But Annaliese brought me into this world with ease and I fell in love with Ara's journey, her need to avenge her sister and of course... Hades!
I just wish there was a sequel!
November 21, 2024
This was terrible. To write a book about real gods and making the storyline so incredibly weird is insane to me. Also the ending of the so called games was very weak and done too quickly to even acknowledge what actually happened. Hated this.
May 25, 2025
простенько, нічого особливого, усі повороти та «хуки» зрозумілі завчасно. щоб прям врізалось в пам’ять треба було або скоротити опис випробувань, або навпаки зробити дилогію, щоб ми більше прочитали про хімію та зближення гг з Аїдом. це 100% Голодні ігри, які схрестили з грецькою мітологією.
підійде людям, в яких це перша або друге роментезі на основі грецької мітології, де чітко вимальовується божественний любовний інтерес. люди, які читали вже мільйон таких історій — не побачать нічого нового. можна брати підліткам, які хочуть романтики без сцен 18+ у божественних декораціях.
я гарно провела час, було прикольненько, але не зачепила за живе, так сказати. лише остання сторінка трошки здивувала. не зовсім такий фінал очікувала.
підійде людям, в яких це перша або друге роментезі на основі грецької мітології, де чітко вимальовується божественний любовний інтерес. люди, які читали вже мільйон таких історій — не побачать нічого нового. можна брати підліткам, які хочуть романтики без сцен 18+ у божественних декораціях.
я гарно провела час, було прикольненько, але не зачепила за живе, так сказати. лише остання сторінка трошки здивувала. не зовсім такий фінал очікувала.
March 23, 2025
Das Buch ist eine Mischung aus Hungergames und Percy Jackson. Ich fand die Hauptperson Ara sehr toll, auch wenn ich sie nicht immer verstanden hat, vorallem wenn es um ihren einen Freund Theron ging. Obwohl ich eigentlich gar nicht drin bin in diesem ganzen Götterzeug, kam ich gut rein und vorallem Hades war in diesem Buch natürlich sehr nahbar, weil man ihn am besten kennengelernt hat. Das Buch ist jetzt nicht unbedingt ein absolutes Highlight, war aber doch ganz schön zu lesen.
November 10, 2023
It's 3am and I'm annoyed.
Where do I begin.... do I begin with how the plot is incredibly 2 dimensional with barely any character development and the little that does show up is shoehorned into 2 scenes in total. Of course the villain is two dimensional and evil and is made out to be an incel freak when the love triangle fails. The character of Hades is sooo "not like other gods I'm better I understand mortals and recognize the hubris of the gods" like okay. The love angle was expected but so so tired like they just start kissing randomly and then he's in love with her and she's in love with him and they've had maybe 3 conversations. Also why is Hades in a teenage boy look like idc about the 'problematic age gap' but if the book is written to cater to modern sensibilities (which it is) then it should entirely too. I did like the scene of Ara feeling Hades' aura but that's about it. The entire Zeus thing is so and then we all held hands and sang kumbaya like bffr the system is rotten a better end would be to ask for the stopping of the games/endangering the lives of the people but no one thinks to fix the systemic issues. Of course not. It's like if someone took thg and pjo and removed what made it tick and turned it into a commodified booktok piece.
Where do I begin.... do I begin with how the plot is incredibly 2 dimensional with barely any character development and the little that does show up is shoehorned into 2 scenes in total. Of course the villain is two dimensional and evil and is made out to be an incel freak when the love triangle fails. The character of Hades is sooo "not like other gods I'm better I understand mortals and recognize the hubris of the gods" like okay. The love angle was expected but so so tired like they just start kissing randomly and then he's in love with her and she's in love with him and they've had maybe 3 conversations. Also why is Hades in a teenage boy look like idc about the 'problematic age gap' but if the book is written to cater to modern sensibilities (which it is) then it should entirely too. I did like the scene of Ara feeling Hades' aura but that's about it. The entire Zeus thing is so and then we all held hands and sang kumbaya like bffr the system is rotten a better end would be to ask for the stopping of the games/endangering the lives of the people but no one thinks to fix the systemic issues. Of course not. It's like if someone took thg and pjo and removed what made it tick and turned it into a commodified booktok piece.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found it to be a comfy read and it kept up a nice pace where I was neither bored, nor out of breath.
The ending was a delight, and not quite what I expected.
Will be keen to pick up more from this author.
The ending was a delight, and not quite what I expected.
Will be keen to pick up more from this author.
September 16, 2023
An interesting story and a very heart pounding love story throughout some powerful action! ✨✨👏
December 25, 2023
what an experience
April 30, 2025
'The Immortal Games' presents a compelling blend of 'The Hunger Games' and 'Percy Jackson,' crafting a distinct world where ancient mythology intertwines with dystopian challenges. The narrative unfolds within the city of Elysium, a sprawling metropolis built upon the ruins of old civilizations, now governed by the Greek gods. The trials, set in meticulously designed arenas that shift between replicating historical landscapes and conjuring fantastical realms, are not merely tests of physical prowess but also strategic battles of wit and alliances. The ever-present surveillance of the Olympian Council adds layers of political intrigue and danger. The romance between the protagonist and Hades is central, exploring the complexities of forbidden love against the backdrop of immortal society. The tension is palpable, their chemistry undeniable, and their connection offers a glimpse into the hidden depths of the Underworld's enigmatic ruler. A solid read overall, inviting readers into a world rich with lore and adventure.
March 25, 2024
I think that the book was really good and it was definitely what I needed after finishing Percy Jackson and needing more Greek Mythology. Some things were confusing like how Persephone wasn’t in the book or married to Hades and how in the end of the book the gods just forgive each other after only arguing a little bit. Personally I think that there should be a second book about a war between them and Ara has to find a way to stop it but if you can read past all those things the book was great. I loved how it was a short read and always had something new going on, but we were still able to be filled in on emotion and love through the story. Overall I think that this is a great book.
March 5, 2024
I really liked the premise of this book, it seemed right up my street but I just didn't click with it. It was perfectly serviceable but it just didn't excite me. I think part of my issue was that I can't see Hades with anyone but Persephone. So as much as I love a wee romantic sub plot it just didn't do it for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2024
I love the way it’s written the creative names were fun to learn this whole book was fantastic other then the really intense way the author describes kissing but over all I gotta if you like romance this was full of it definitely recommend just note not all the adventures more love scattered around what’s supposed to be dangerous and like a thriller but other wise FANTASTIC!!!
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