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The Game of Oaths
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Expected 2 Jun 26In this heart-pounding, richly imagined fantasy set in the Belle Époque, a trapeze artist fights to win a deadly tournament amid the glamour and illusions of a magical circus. But survival isn’t her only goal—she wants revenge.
It’s 1896. Beneath a hotel in the heart of Paris is the famed le Cirque des Ombres, led by ringmaster and Enchanteur Jean-Pierre. But behind the dazzling spectacles, the circus performers are bound by magical contracts, also making them potential players in the annual Game of Oaths, an underground bloodthirsty tournament watched by the wealthy elite. Twelve will compete. Eleven will die.
Seventeen-year-old trapeze artist Falan Sunkara is out for revenge. After her sister ended up as one of the unlucky eleven last year, Falan wants nothing more than to make Jean-Pierre pay for her death. When she’s chosen to compete in this year’s tournament, Falan is not above playing dirty and forging unlikely alliances. But to be the last one standing, she has to determine whom to trust and whose motives to question. Vengeance on top of survival is a dangerous gamble—and in games like this, the house always wins.
It’s 1896. Beneath a hotel in the heart of Paris is the famed le Cirque des Ombres, led by ringmaster and Enchanteur Jean-Pierre. But behind the dazzling spectacles, the circus performers are bound by magical contracts, also making them potential players in the annual Game of Oaths, an underground bloodthirsty tournament watched by the wealthy elite. Twelve will compete. Eleven will die.
Seventeen-year-old trapeze artist Falan Sunkara is out for revenge. After her sister ended up as one of the unlucky eleven last year, Falan wants nothing more than to make Jean-Pierre pay for her death. When she’s chosen to compete in this year’s tournament, Falan is not above playing dirty and forging unlikely alliances. But to be the last one standing, she has to determine whom to trust and whose motives to question. Vengeance on top of survival is a dangerous gamble—and in games like this, the house always wins.
- GenresFantasy
432 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 2, 2026
1 person is currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
S.C. Bandreddi
1 book12 followersS.C. Bandreddi is a writer who hails from California’s Bay Area, where she grew up scribbling stories deep into the night and hasn’t stopped since. She’s a graduate of California State University, Fullerton, where she studied Communications and film. When she’s not putting words on paper, she’s usually gaming, rewatching her favorite movies, or at an arcade trying to win as many plushies as she can. Her debut novel, THE GAME OF OATHS, will be published June 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Want to read
May 2, 2025you promise me a vengeful mc and i come running. also, the hunger games meets the night circus
July 8, 2025
Can’t wait for this to be out :))
December 13, 2025
Game of Oaths is a book that left me feeling a bit torn. The story has genuinely strong bones: an alluring circus setting, a dangerous magical competition, and high stakes that should make this impossible to put down. At its best, especially during the game days themselves, the tension and pacing really worked for me. Those chapters were easily the strongest parts of the book and where the story felt most alive.
That said, I struggled with the execution. Much of the dialogue felt stilted, and the transitions between scenes were often choppy. Some character motivations, particularly Ronan’s, didn’t fully land for me, which made it harder to stay emotionally invested. The romance was very light, and the payoff never quite materialized in a satisfying way.
I also found myself wishing the magic played a larger role. Falan’s abilities felt like they should be central to the story, but they largely stayed in the background. I kept expecting a moment where her magic would truly manifest or help her escape a dire situation, but that euphoric breakthrough never really came.
Where the book surprised me was in the flashbacks. I don’t usually gravitate toward memory-heavy storytelling, but Falan’s recollections of her “sister” Lavanya were genuinely charming and added much needed emotional depth. Those moments helped ground the story and made the characters feel more human.
Overall, Game of Oaths shines brightest in its gameplay and world concept, but the setup and ending felt like the weakest points. With tighter dialogue, more believable motivations, and a stronger payoff, this could have easily gone from a 3 to a 5 star.
Thank you to Candlewick press and Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
That said, I struggled with the execution. Much of the dialogue felt stilted, and the transitions between scenes were often choppy. Some character motivations, particularly Ronan’s, didn’t fully land for me, which made it harder to stay emotionally invested. The romance was very light, and the payoff never quite materialized in a satisfying way.
I also found myself wishing the magic played a larger role. Falan’s abilities felt like they should be central to the story, but they largely stayed in the background. I kept expecting a moment where her magic would truly manifest or help her escape a dire situation, but that euphoric breakthrough never really came.
Where the book surprised me was in the flashbacks. I don’t usually gravitate toward memory-heavy storytelling, but Falan’s recollections of her “sister” Lavanya were genuinely charming and added much needed emotional depth. Those moments helped ground the story and made the characters feel more human.
Overall, Game of Oaths shines brightest in its gameplay and world concept, but the setup and ending felt like the weakest points. With tighter dialogue, more believable motivations, and a stronger payoff, this could have easily gone from a 3 to a 5 star.
Thank you to Candlewick press and Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Want to read
October 10, 2025From PW:
"Lindsay Warren at Candlewick Press has bought The Game of Oaths by S.C. Bandreddi, a high-stakes historical YA fantasy set in Belle Époque Paris, where Falan Sunkara is a trapeze artist for Paris's famous magical circus, Le Cirque des Ombres. Le Cirque is ruled by one of the few magicians in the city legally allowed to use magic for entertainment. Each year, 12 members must compete in the Game of Oaths, a brutal tournament of deadly games watched by the city's elite, and only one will survive. Candlewick and Walker Books UK will release simultaneously in summer 2026; Catherine Cho at Paper Literary brokered the deal for world rights."
"Lindsay Warren at Candlewick Press has bought The Game of Oaths by S.C. Bandreddi, a high-stakes historical YA fantasy set in Belle Époque Paris, where Falan Sunkara is a trapeze artist for Paris's famous magical circus, Le Cirque des Ombres. Le Cirque is ruled by one of the few magicians in the city legally allowed to use magic for entertainment. Each year, 12 members must compete in the Game of Oaths, a brutal tournament of deadly games watched by the city's elite, and only one will survive. Candlewick and Walker Books UK will release simultaneously in summer 2026; Catherine Cho at Paper Literary brokered the deal for world rights."
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews