The Winged Game

by Sophie Kim

Fantasy meets sports romance in this sizzling slow-burn novel from the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The God and the Gumiho, in which the disgraced star of a brutal magical sport must team up with the rival who destroyed her career.

Carriwitchet, the violent, rugby-esque game played atop winged beasts, was once Taissa Cho’s whole life, and she was once the United Kingdom’s most promising player. Until her nemesis, rival player Kion Locke, destroyed her career in a single moment. Expelled from the sport in disgrace, Taissa has spent the last two years dreaming of nothing but revenge and relishing watching Kion’s team plummet to the bottom of the league.

So when Taissa is offered the chance to redeem herself and her career, she can’t refuse—even if the offer is coming from the very man who ruined everything in the first place. It’s close to a dream come true . . . except for that pesky clause in her contract that demands she and Kion enter a fake relationship in order to garner some much-needed positive PR for the team. This could not be a worse match. Taissa and Kion only have two things in their love of the game, and their undying hatred for each other.

Yet as a mysterious illness befalls the winged creatures of the entire league—putting both the beasts’ lives and the very sport itself at stake—the athletes find themselves partnering up in other ways, determined to crack the case of the eerie sickness. As their investigation takes them on a whirlwind adventure, Kion and Taissa are prepared for anything . . .

Anything, that is, but their fake-for-the-cameras relationship to maybe, just maybe, become something real after all.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Sports, Romance, Sports Romance, Fantasy Romance, Adult

544 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 30, 2026

About the author

Sophie Kim is the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of stories that feature mythology, monsters, mystery, and magic. Her critically acclaimed work includes young adult novels such as the Talons series, as well as books on the adult spectrum such as The God and the Gumiho.

Profile illustration by @warickaart.

Reviews

[Ricarda]

Honestly pretty thrilled about a fantasy x sports romance mix by Sophie Kim.

[Hannah Lee (Back in April) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romantasy meets sports romance!

This is one of my top reads of the year. It was such a refreshingly unique book in multiple ways. First of all, I’m kind of hit or miss with contemporary sports romances because I’m such a fantasy/romantasy girlie at heart. This is such an interesting mix because the book centers around the game of Carriwitchet.

Carriwitchet is played on the backs of various magical creatures. Each team has one specific kind of creature they ride, for example wyverns. I’ve seen some reviews comparing Carriwitchet to Quidditch from Harry Potter, but I think that’s an extremely unfair comparison seeing as the only similarity is that both games are played in the air. The positions are different, and the goal is to steal three gems from the opposing team’s tower. Whoever brings all three of the opposing team’s gems back to their side of the field first wins.

It took me a while to understand the game and the different roles of the players. I read an ARC copy, and hopefully Sophie Kim will add a glossary or a diagram of the playing field at some point.

The book starts off two years before the main story, and we find out how and why Taissa is forced to leave her Carriwitchet team in disgrace. Flash forward to two years later, and her biggest opponent, MMC Kion, asks her to return to the league on his team to help them out of the bad losing streak they’ve been having. The team desperately needs some good PR, so they agree to fake date for the good of the club. This brings me to my second point that made this book unique. In my opinion, this was a TRUE enemies to lovers. Every book claims to have that trope nowadays, but it really delivered here. I absolutely hated both of these characters for one another in the beginning, and I didn’t know how Kim was going to be able to change my mind about that.

I don’t want to reveal too much because there were a couple of twists that I didn’t see coming, and I don’t want to ruin that experience for anyone. However, I feel legally obligated to mention how absolutely obsessed I am with Cronus. I’m not even going to tell you who/what that is...I guess you’ll just have to read this!!!!

—Thank you to NetGalley, Sophie Kim, and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the ARC copy of The Winged Game—

[vxmpslibrary [exams hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

.4.5 stars.
⤿ 💌 ⌗ publishing date: 30th June 2026.

.my thoughts.
I actually did not meant to pick this book up, when I heard about it, I was very skeptical because this whole situation sounds interesting but I was scared, but then it's written by Sophie Kim, and I would always love to give her books a chance.

And they hit. no lie.

So sports romantasy is the best thing ever? Sophie Kim tries something new and I'm ready for her to serve and exactly it left me amused and interested. The whole plot infact blew my mind, I was in fact already love with the characters.

Yes, the writing style and dialogues are no joke, not for the weak hearted, the dialogues made my head ache with amusement, and frustration both. Because did I expect the foul language? No, but even more the language was funnily put. On some other day I would have been annoyed, luckily I was bored so I loved it.

Also this book was funny for me, like I don't know why I kept laughing at so many things that occurred in the middle of the book and from the starting it seems to draw me in.

Taissa Cho, is a very fierce character. She's strong, unwilling to backdown from a fight or a verbal even physical spar. If I could be honest, I'm saying that the way she spoke back made me feel satisfied, honestly she was so different and I loved it about her. She was indeed soft from inside, but the way she spoke in her thick accent was anything but cute. She would make you regret talking with her.

And she loved to fight with Kion.

Kion is the very person who brought her career to downhill in jealousy, insecurity and even as a way to revenge on the defeat he has recieved because of her. She would always be good and she hated him which would piss him off more. Butt underneath all those years we have a 'pookie' -- yes that's why Taissa called him - who secretly is a yearner and yearns for touch a lot haha.

Honestly these both were very different characters, they were fighting like siblings/ rivals both at the same time which made it interesting. Their banter made me chuckle and laugh, even made me feel embarrassed because what the hell is a bahoochie situation!?!? I was feeling so many emotions at once with this book. The way he would care for her and the way she cared for him, in the end she was the real yearner I know, and I loved it all, there were so many beautiful moments.

James, I doubted him, for a second I wondered if he was gay [I'm sorry but the way he acted jealous] sorry James, but connecting with him was a bit harder since he was barely on screen with other crew. Yet I loved his bond with Kion, they were good friends indeed. Even though the way they stopped talking after Kion lied was a bit tad dramatic but then I'm the same so I don't blame him.

Knox, wow he was such a cutie at the same time funny. He was very carefree and good to go with, always engaging and verbally sparring with Orion, which seemed like his daily hobby. Yet I loved his character it was easy to like him the way he commented in a funny way.

There are other team members too whom I loved them so much, but you would have to read the book to know about them!! Bronte, Orion and [another one I forgot the name] are the best ones too <3.

The found family was so cute honestly, it made me happy at how when they all opened up they were so sincere in protecting each other. Didn't expect much of it but I loved it.

Even the plot that revolved around when solved, it was hinted at, and it did went in circles before settling in, it was surprising and enjoyable I would say, sometimes it may dim but then the characters itself are interesting so you don't actually see yourself in a dim boring situation.

The ending did had a satisfying end, but I expected more of Taissa's old team hoping that they get what they deserve. Aster and Elise were mean and rude, dare I hoped for revenge hehe sorry.

I would yes , recommend this book a lot! It was so good, sports and romantasy do go well off! But just a tad bit warning about the writing, scottish it is, and dangerously weird. Yet I loved it.

💌 Thank you, Netgalley and Del Ray, Random House Worlds, for this beautiful arc in exchange for an honest review.

.# preread.
I didn't expect to get this arc I'm screaming!?!?! O my goodness I'm not gonna read this yet but in March end probably [watch me go back on my words and read it rn].

[Mai ༊*·˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ★— Who doesn’t love a heated rivalry?

The Winged Game is a self-described sports romantasy about two former star players, Kion Locke and Taissa Cho, who have both lost their elite athlete reputations after she was outed for cheating by him two years ago, while his team has continued spiraling downward and losing its standing.

Easy to read, I’ll absolutely commend Sophie Kim for her genuinely funny and cheeky writing style. This book is quite long, but the smooth flow and lighthearted tone of the prose made it feel like a breeze to move through!

That said, this doesn’t stop me from acknowledging that certain sections dragged a little, and I do think the story could have been tightened in places. Do not get me wrong, I loved this book and had so much fun reading it, but the substantial length, along with what occasionally felt like stalled plot momentum, might put some readers off.

Told in dual POV, we follow Taissa and Kion as they slowly build their relationship. And by slowly, I mean slowly. Their connection takes a while to blossom, so that when it does, it feels earned and thoughtfully developed. As someone who loves a drawn-out buildup filled to the brim with all the glances, confusion, yearning and emotional uncertainty, I genuinely reveled in watching Taissa and Kion fumble their way from fake dating into real feelings.

There were also just so many hilarious moments throughout, a lot of them rooted in the story’s UK setting and the genuinely brilliant expressions and phrases that came with it. Taissa, for example, being half-Scottish and using her very colourful Scottish slang and a variety of Scottish insults, added so much humor! Really, this book has once again underlined my belief that truly, no one swears like the British.

The central plot shifts from being primarily sports-focused into something closer to a light detective style story in the latter half of the book, so readers who enjoyed Kim’s previous duology may find appreciate some familiar elements here. I know I did!

I’ve felt this about Sophie Kim’s work before, but after finishing this, I can confidently say that this woman has absolutely spent time in the halls of Tumblr and AO3. Large parts of this book gave me the exact warm giddiness of a really good 120,000 word slow-burn AU fic, and I mean that in the best, most complimentary way possible.

I would genuinely love a sequel novel focused on one of the side characters, because this world feels sobfull of stories still waiting to be explored. There are so many possibilities for fun romances among the characters we’ve been shown, and with the way this was written, the door for that is wiiiide open.

__________________

Thank you to Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ The Winged Game ✨
I devoured this book. I was immediately obsessed with this book and I need at least ten more in this world. It is already one of my favorite reads of the year. Honestly, this was a 6 star read for me!! This was truly romantasy sports romance in every sense and I am already impatient for the audiobook. I am manifesting duet narration with a full cast because it deserves that level of production.

The second I realized the main characters play a magical sport on winged beasts, I was locked in. That concept alone had me, but the execution was chefs kiss! The magic system was strong and the world building actually surprised me. But it wasn't overwhelming!

Taissa absolutely wrecked me. My heart broke for her and I was genuinely angry on her behalf. Her fall from grace and everything that follows was awful! Especially when you learn why! Also, this was a true enemies to lovers romance. Both Taissa and Kion strongly hated each other! Which made the fake dating even funnier! I did think the photoshoot scene was odd and unncessary?

The only note I’ll make is that although the characters are in their late twenties, they read younger. More like college aged professional athletes. It didn’t ruin anything for me, but it stood out.

💫 What to Expect
• Magical sports
• Rival athletes
• Forced proximity
• True enemies to lovers
• Fake dating
• Wyvern besties!
• Found family
• Healing Arc
_ _ _

📅 Pub Date: June 30, 2026
📝 Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Sara]

At this point if she writes it, I’ll buy. Sophie Kim truly does not get enough hype.

[bailey elizabeth smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

"They're a perfect fit, like lock and key. Morganna save her, but she never wants the kiss to end. Yet perhaps she shouldn't worry. Something tells her that they have all the time in the world."

...

Thank you to both NetGalley and DelRey Publsihing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I can't say I have read a fantasy sports romance before, but if Sophie Kim writes it, I am in fact going to read it. And imagine my sheer and utter delight when I stumbled upon easter eggs for the God and the Gumiho throughout this book?? I REPEAT, THIS IS SET IN THE SAME UNIVERSE AS THE GOD AND THE GUMIHO!! We get sweet little mentions of New Sinsi, Godly Gossip, and a certain disgraced trickster god. So yes, I loved that, but of course, now my thoughts on the book at hand!

This is a dual POV fantasy romance novel centered around rival athletes, Tiassa and Kion. They play a game called cariwitchet where players ride different magical creatures on the pitch, such as dragons, wyverns, and cockatrice. Each team has what are called draconian jewels held in their respective siege towers that either opposing team must acquire all three of to win the game. They play on a pitch and have a major and minor league, and some other familiar terms to help you sort of make sense of it all. The game itself was fun, and captivated me as someone who is not a sports-centric person. And while we focus primarily on our two main characters, I felt that we got just enough "screentime" for the other players on the team, so we have a well-rounded cast. In ways, it reminded me of the show Ted Lasso, as we are focusing on an underdog team of players.

Tiassa and Kion had such an incredible dynamic and growth throughout the story. Their growth was not purely tied to them and their impending romance, but also as individuals. Tiassa used to be a star player until she was spotted to have a luck glyph on her skin by Kion. The two had already been batting heads for years (even though Tiassa used to be a super fan and considered him an idol before being a player herself), but this was the nail in the coffin. Tiassa became hated and disgraced until two years later, Kion appeared at her door, asking her to come play for his team. His team has fallen on hard times over the years, having been pushed down to the minor leagues, and is now on the brink of dissolution. He needs Tiassa to save them. However, their bad luck may be more than it appears...

I loved this world along with its magic system. We have a wide array of magical creatures, along with Seelie, Unseelie, Goblins, Hobgoblins, Vampires, etc. And those with magical abilities live in private areas that are magically made invisible from the outside world so that they can live in peace. The way magic is created is by drawing symbols, and each can have varying degrees/levels of power. I pictured this as how magic is formed in the manga Witch Hat Atelier. Players are also connected to the magical creature they ride for Cariwitchet and can speak to them telepathically! It all made for a fun and magic-filled world!

The dialogue was so funny and adorable, and had me smiling and feeling all fuzzy inside. The romance has such a perfect evolution from rivals to lovers, and the found-family and animal companion relationships filled my heart with so much joy (I love you, Cronus).

I wish the pacing had been a little more refined in the last 100 or so pages, but I absolutely adored this book and cannot wait for her upcoming books to have more details!!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sports romance meets fantasy. This was cute and fun! RTC

[‧₊˚ ellie ♡ (إيلي) · Rating 5 out of 5]

finally found my first five star read of 2026! thanks to sophie kim & del rey publishing house for gifting me a review copy. it doesn’t affect my thoughts about the book in any way.

FULL RTC THIS WAS SO FUCKING GOOD

[❀ maria ❀ · Rating 2 out of 5]

while not a huge fan of sports romance books, I was very intrigued by the concept of this book, but sadly, it didn’t live up to my expectations.

firstly, it took a couple tries for me to actually get into this book. the beginning is very slow, and it took so long for the plot to actually start. there’s also the matter of carriwitchet - we, as readers, barely have any idea what this sport is like. I feel like so many unnecessary concepts were over explained, while the actual rules of this game are barely mentioned.

after about 25%, the story gained some momentum, only to fall flat again around the 45% mark. the pacing was off, and the book should honestly have been at least 150 pages shorter. so many scenes added nothing to the plot and should’ve just been cut.

all in all, not my favorite Sophie Kim book, unfortunately.

thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Danielle]

I can’t share my full review yet per the guidelines BUT I think this book will be very popular when it comes out especially given that it’s coming in on the heels of a new wave of intrigue in sports romances! I mean I devoured the book in no time at all! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me an ARC! I can’t wait to share the full review in the future!!

[carthi ♡]

a new sophie kim world? im sat 🙂‍↕️ fantasy sports romance, here i come ^^ (delrey gimme that copy rn!!!)

[Lily.J❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You ruined my life. Why should I save yours?”

Sports romance + fantasy = a match made in heaven.
I was really intrigued by the premise of this story and how it would work, and I can confirm it’s brilliant.

This book is focused around the game of Carriwichet, a sport played on the backs of different magical creatures - each team has a different type of steed (one example being wyverns). The overall aim of the game is to steal 3 jewels from the opposing team’s base tower (which has multiple levels), and bring it back over to their side of the field. The first team to get all three jewels on their side wins.
Overall I would say it was reasonably easy to get the gist of the game but perhaps adding a rule book or glossary of terms/manoeuvres to the book would be helpful for publication.

The book follows the FMC Taissa Cho, a disgraced Carriwichet player, who is being asked to return to the game by her biggest rival, the MMC Kion Locke. He needs her to try and save his team, due to their seemingly never ending losing streak. In addition to try and increase the popularity for the team they are pushed into fake dating which really helps the rivals to lovers trope gain traction within the story.
I don’t want to say too much as I would hate to spoil it, but for all those reading this I implore you to give this book a chance.

I found the characters and relationships in the book to all be really well written, Taissa is a strong and fierce Scottish woman who won’t back down from a fight and Kion is a true leader who values trust while holding back a handful of dark secrets of his own. Along with them you have the rest of the found family, James, Knox, Orion and more. Again for the avoidance of spoilers I won’t say much more but just know I love Cronus (iykyk).
The banter and communication throughout the story had me laughing on many occasions and it really allows you to see their motivations which help push the story’s narrative forward.

The world building in here is really interesting, blending modern day reality into a fantasy setting with hidden cities and all sorts of magical species, from witches and warlocks to trolls and elves.
The magic system is also really cool to read, the main characters use qyls to draw symbols of varying power to gain abilities - to me it was reminiscent of stele’s from shadowhunters.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys the tropes of rivals to lovers, found family and who did this to you. Honestly sports romantasy wasn’t a genre I ever considered but it truly is really fun and this book shows it off so well. I won’t lie there were a few points throughout reading where I cringed whether it be due to the slang (bahoochie formation) or the common mouthing of words to each other (like guys you know other people can see you doing that right), I think that it just added more to the charm of the book. So if you’re reading this review, take it as a sign to go read this book (if you haven’t already).

Thanks to NetGalley, Sophie Kim and Del Rey for an ARC of this book, in return for an honest review.

[Caseys_bookshelff · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK WAS HILARIOUS.

I’ve been ignoring my TBR like the pixie pox for this book! Sophie’s writing has always pulled me in with no hesitation from- The God & the Gumiho, The God & the Gwisin, and now The Winged Game. I loved every second of this book.

Taissa our FMC is sarcastic, hard headed, fearless, and one of the best Carriwitchet players. Her humor and energy is just so entertaining. I can’t think of a moment that I was not humored by her.

I don’t know what I loved more the side characters or the mythical beasts they ride. Cronus and Sansa are the best! I love grumpy old child eating Cronus. 🥹 He’s so grouchy but a big softie on the inside. And Sansa, I was definitely a little scared for her when the curse was being discovered (I would have rioted if the ending didn’t give an update on her but luckily Sophie pulled through with the best Sansa moment ever: cue the pink glitter and giant banner at the game hehe). Sansa is seriously the cutest cheerleader. I’m glad Taissa was able to keep them both in the end!

Our side characters are other members of the team including Adriel, James, Knox, Orion, Mahina, Brontë, and Isla. Each with their own personalities and complexities that added well to the storyline. I especially loved how sign language rep was included with Mahina (and Taissa learning BSL). Orion and Knox were probably two of the most interesting side character with Orion being the intense one and Knox to me is more mischievous.

Don’t worry I haven’t forgotten Kion, our MMC. Kion is so down bad for Taissa you can’t convince me otherwise even from the beginning. I’ve never enjoyed a slow burn as much I did with their story. Kion is misunderstood and struggling with things no one knows about (until he decides to speak with his friends about his struggles). It makes him a vulnerable and more likable character for me. His ongoing banter with Taissa is also just very amusing.

One of my favorite scenes is the bahoochie formation I just was not expecting it. 🤣 Literally the most bizarre and hilarious scene to me.

So what can you expect from this book? Sports romance (with a real slow burn, rivals to lovers, banter (lots of it), humorous jokes and scenes, detailed world building on the game of carriwitchet, magic/witches, and a mysterious curse.

AND OMG?! Taissa’s mom, Estee, being in New Sinsi?! Like the city in The God & the Gumiho, yes I caught that. 👀

I could probably write a couple more paragraphs on why I loved this book but I’ll just end this with-

For Merlin’s sake read this book. 🤭

Thank you Del Rey for the eARC!

[Meenu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC

Fantasy Sports Romance you say? Enemies to lovers? She imagines killing someone with her crochet scarves, relatable, We've all been there haven't we?

I love how Sophie Kim blends folklore with the story she writes, her Fates Threads books remain a favourite asn she has hit the ball out of the park again (or should I say Jewel).

We meet disgraced ex-pro carriwitchet player Taissa trying to make ends meet after a heartbreak of being shunned and blacklisted from the NCL league, when who comes along but the other guy who got her fired. And he's asking her to come play for his team? Somehow they have to also fake being in love? Surely they can endure it for the love of the game 😌 (Niamh ghostwrote this)

I like how the story progressed through the mystery of the terrible plays and the even worse luck of the Stymphs and how the Romance was built on trust and communication and not just damn I hate to love you, let's shag in a closet 😂.

I would love a deeper dive into this world building, I love the things we learned about the land through the story itself. I felt it was a great blend of mystery, fantasy sports romance and a little dash of shenanigans. NGL I almost became a hater of the wrong person at a point. I loved Taissa and her insane bird.

What a way to start off an year with a good book.

The only feedback I would say is that readers familiar with Fae/folklore will find it easier to follow this story though it's not really necessary in the long run.

In summary, I devoured this book , like Cronus did or attempted to, his children.

[Vavo ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It feels so good to be obsessed with a book after a month long reading slump (yes it was because of heated rivalry).

Here is the line that made me laugh out loud at 4 a.m :
Like that he was spotted at an Elvis impersonator's concert in 2018 - Elvish Presley

The beginning of the book made me think that it would be more lighthearted than it actually was but in the end I was enamored exactly because of the balance between humor and heavy issues.

The romance : impeccable. Even thought it included some of my least favorite tropes (see enemies to lovers and fake dating), it was written so well and it made so much sense for the story that I actually loved it. We actually see them turn into lovers and the sex scene was fucking earned.

The characters: incredible. Both the main and the side characters were well written and fleshed out. Their found family seriously melt my heart.

The plot: impressive. It was about the sport, and about the characters, and about the mystery, and about the romance all at once without being confusing or overwhelming. I was truly astonished by how well balanced every aspect of the book was.

I've been swooning too much I think so I will say that I wish the worldbuilding was woven a little bit better and that I hadn't actually solved the mystery before they did, but that's just a pet peeve of mine so whatever. It does not matter in the grand scheme of how much I love this book.

[Hannah (The Book Snek) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the chance to read this ARC. I have read a couple of works by this author and was super excited to read one of my most anticipated reads for this year.

I've rated this 3 stars to recognise that I believe there is an audience that will love the level of world building and imagination. However for me, ​I feel like this is a case of my expectations not being met, rather than an issue with the book per se. ​Let’s get into this...

​The world building was ambitious, and I found it personally overwhelming from the start. I would have loved to see the world building woven more organically into the plot as the story progressed, rather than packed in at the beginning.

​There was a fair amount of meandering throughout the character building. It’s great to get insight into internal monologues or the characters' perspectives and thoughts; however, I felt these could have been a little more concise and snappy. At times, I found myself zoning out as the characters internalised waffle was carrying over paragraphs, rather than sentences.

​I appreciated the attempt to inject levity into the grumpy rivals/enemies dynamic, as banter was something I enjoyed in previous works I’ve read from this author. However, some of the colloquial Britishisms throughout the dialogue and world building felt a bit forced and disingenuous, particularly those associated with very specific cultural groups and movements within the UK.

​The fictional sport was interesting, though it did feel very reminiscent of a more adult, avian version of the sport in a certain magic school book that shall not be named.

For context, I am a 'sports' person, particularly football, which is very much a core part of my upbringing, coming from a poor, working class background; your team is part of your identity. I’m also a romantasy reader, so I went into this expecting it to be the ultimate crossover episode. Sadly, it just didn't hit the mark for me. I couldn't buy into the sport element and the romantasy element was overshadowed by info overload, and I just felt a bit lost throughout it all.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went in to this book knowing I love Sophie Kim’s writing and being already sold on what sounded like an interesting plot. I did not expect for me to be laughing and smiling throughout reading this and immediately preordering a physical copy at the 30% mark! So yeah…I loved it, let me tell you why;

Plot in a nutshell - Rival sports athletes end up playing for the same team and trying to solve some mysteries around curses while also having to fake date to amp up the team’s image. There were a few plot points to follow but it never felt overwhelming or confusing, they all added value to the story as a whole. I loved the subplot of the curses and the little adventures we went on to get more clues around them, I definitely sussed who was behind the curses but this in no way lessened my enjoyment of the mystery. This is also quite a long book but I was never bored and always felt eager to return to this world.

World building - the magical setting and world building in this felt authentic and wasn’t at all overwhelming. I thought the game of carriwitchet was fun and exciting without bombarding us with rules. The teams being different winged creatures was great and led to some high stakes scenes. The main thing I loved about this book was that the world felt cosy, it was magical and safe and comforting and I was sad to finish the book, knowing that I was done with the story. But how lovely? To find a book I know I’ll reread just to feel at home.

Rivals to lovers - Okay, Taissa and Kion stole my heart as individuals and as romantic leads. The transition from a condescending ‘Sweetheart’ to an earnest, emotional one is unbeatable 🙌 when they finally call each other by their first names instead of their last - absolutely immaculate 😭 the use of the nickname ‘menace’ will always make me smile 💕 but the true reason these two are so wonderful to read about -outside of these tropes- is that they are survivors. Kion has a lot of trauma to work through as does Taissa. They were able to heal one another in quiet, soft ways, building trust and tearing down first impressions. They’ve hated each other for so long, but neither truly understands why. It’s then so beautiful to see them open up and tell their perceptions of the relationship and how the admiration has always been there. I just loved every moment these two were together - throughout the bickering, the blushes, the boudoir shoot 😉 they are a standout new favourite pair for me 🫶

Characters and found family - The Stymphs were an amazing cast of characters alongside their winged creatures. It gave that feeling of finally finding your people, and what people they were! They made me laugh a lot, and it felt like reading about siblings. They all had their succinct personalities and made the team feel like a family. I was so happy that Taissa was able to find that for herself.

Overall, this is one of my new favourite books. A new fictional safe space to return to when the world becomes a bit too much.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Winged Game by Sophie Kim is an absolute delight!
Take Harry Potter, Fourth Wing (grumpy creatures,) Of Flame and Fury, with a dash of Fae lore, mix them all together and you get this delicious treat.

I have loved Sophie Kim since picking up her The God and the Gumiho series. When I saw this I immediately grabbed it (thanks also to Del Rey for the Widget,) and this one did not disappoint.

I’m not a huge sports romance fan but this never felt like all sport, all the time. It had Carriwitchet which is a magical sport played on winged animals. I tend to see it as a savage game of capture the flag where Winged creatures can attack and you can use weapons. It was fun learning about a new magical sport but it’s not the center of the story. It’s the mystery that happens and how the main characters interact. This has a similar plot vibes as Gumiho.

Taissa Cho gets kicked out of the sport for cheating. The guy who turned her in Kion Locke comes around 2 years later begging her to help his team (since they got so bad they about to be dissolved. Once on board with the team they realize that the team is cursed and other bad things start to happen. Can Kion and Taissa put aside their hatred to figure out how to save the league and themselves?

Kion and Taissa are both hurt so badly in the past. Kim makes the characters so real and you just feel for them. Both of them are so full of rage and pain. The development and backstory are fabulous.
The banter between the two is fire. Rivals to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and they do it so well. The snarky attitude/banter just makes this book a laugh out loud stand out.

I do wish that Kim would explain Carriwitchet a little bit more (maybe a little play card at the end of the book saying the rules and how to play?) and describe the different winged creatures better. But other than that I loved all the things.

If you are looking for a fun rivals to lovers with grumpy animal familiars with all kinds of magical creatures this book is for you. I cannot wait to get as many editions as possible.
Also if you are a fan of The God and the Gumiho there are some fun Easter eggs in this.

Enjoy!

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the arc.

[Danielle Hilliard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sports/romance/fantasy...a sporomantasy?! Sorry, it had to be done, I will see myself out.

I am a huge fan of The God and the Gumiho and it usually makes me nervous that this wasn't going to be a good- I have been burned many times in the past where authors subsequent books have not lived up to my expectations. Which now that I think of it, is very much a me problem and not the author's problem. Anyway, what I am very inarticulately saying is that I needn't be worried - I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

It has so much heart with a side of humour and absurdity that has me cackling like a witch while kicking my feet. I really enjoyed both Taissa and Kion'c characters and not only how their relationship developed but also with the team as a whole.

For my trope loving peeps, we have found family, touch her/him/my winged beast and die, hurt/comfort, grumpy and grumpier...I am sure that there are more but I just can't think of them right now.

The only reason that this wasn't a 5 star read for me was that I got lost in some of the colloquialisms. I am usually pretty good with slang from the UK, but this one has me scratching my head more often that I would have liked which kept pulling me out of the story. I eventually got the meaning from context but that was kinda annoying.

Overall, this was an absolute delight to read and the fact that I wanted to read it and not rewatch Heated Rivalry forthe millionth time is probably a good indicator that I would definitely recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Ray for the eARC and because I am now feeling the urge to rewatch Heated Rivalry again, I have left an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Kim's signature humorous voice shines in her newest standalone novel, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘎𝘢𝘮𝘦. This unique tale masterfully blends readers' favorite parts of fantasy and sports romance, featuring a high-speed rugby and Quidditch-inspired game where players ride winged beasts in lieu of broomsticks.

Taissa lost everything at the hands of her rival, Kion. The ability to play carriwitchet and her tight-knit wyvern bond have quickly been replaced with relentless sneers and a steep pile of bills. When Kion begs her to return to the sport and fill a spot on his team, she agrees, only to find herself fake dating her rival and investigating a strange illness affecting the magical beasts.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘎𝘢𝘮𝘦 is a unique crowd pleaser! While it felt a bit longer than it needed to be, the pacing does allow for appropriate setup and payoff. I adored the winged bonding and telepathic connections, and the character work was fantastic. There are well-built backstories and motivations that made for an intriguing and empathetic read. A fierce found family element develops throughout the story, and I really enjoyed watching it unfold. The inclusion of BSL was refreshing and well-presented, too!

Sophie Kim is such a fresh voice in the fantasy genre, and I adored her unique writing style yet again. I can't wait to see what she crafts next!

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the advance reading copy!

{{If you're sensitive to triggers, PTSD, abuse, and bullying are fairly heavily explored with a serious tone that opposes the humor, so please check before diving in.}}

[Mukireads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ted Lasso meets Heated Rivalry meets Harry Potter in this adorable sports Romantasy! Once again, Sophie Kim absolutely nails the grumpy-snarky-lovers vibes. If you enjoyed the dynamics in the God and the Gumiho, you will also enjoy this book! And beyond the love story, Sophie Kim also does a great job at looking at sports teams with a critical but tender eye, calling out the neoliberalisation, sexism, and more of sports while still keeping everything sweet because the whole cast of characters is so adorable. The only negative thing I’d have to say is that the book could have been just a tidy bit shorter!


Thank you Netgalley and DelRey for the ARC!

[Madison]

DNF @ 25%

I tried for several days with this one because I like a sports romance, but the writing is really terrible and the tropes are so poorly shoehorned into the plot that I wanted to rip my hair out. It feels like a pretty craven cash grab.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible!! I absolutely loved it from the very beginning. Romantasy books don’t always need to take themselves so seriously; sometimes you just need to enjoy a Romantasy where two rivals, who play a game on mythical creatures, find love. And the layers to this story! *Chefs kiss*. The intensity and plot shifts throughout the book made it impossible to put down.

[Jamie]

Thank you so much, Del Rey for the digital ARC!! 🥹🪽

[Larissa Soares · Rating 3 out of 5]

As soon as I picked up this book, I knew I was in for a funsies little fantasy sporty ride, and not an epic fantasy. But from the first pages, I felt a disconnect between what the book claimed to be (adult fantasy romance) and what it read like (YA contemporary with fantasy window dressing).

Taissa and Kion are rival riders in carriwitchet (a sport involving winged beasts and magical glyphs), who are forced to work together when to help Kion’s team leave the trenches, and give Taissa the chance to regain her reputation after having her career destroyed by Kion 2 years ago. As they train together, their mutual hatred begins to crack, while a mysterious disease starts to spread amongst the wingeds.

One of the things I liked most about this book is that Taissa and Kion genuinely hate each other from page one. Too many books slap “enemies to lovers” on the cover when the characters are really just mildly annoyed acquaintances who fight flirtatiously. Not here. These two despise each other. The animosity is real, it’s got history, and it’s mutual. And for a solid chunk of the book, they’re still awful to each other even as they’re reluctantly spending time on the same team. The shift from enemies to something else happens slowly, messily, with setbacks, which felt way more natural than the instant attraction most books try to sell.

That said, the ending stretched things a bit too far for me. The way their relationship resolved felt rushed after all yearning. It didn’t land quite right. But up until that point? I was genuinely impressed by how earned the progression felt.

Throughout the book we get these little social media interludes (posts the players make and how fans are responding) and honestly, they cracked me up. At first I thought, oh god, please no, but after a few of them I found myself actually looking forward to them. They were funny, they added levity, and they gave us insight into how the public perceives these characters (after all, they’re famous carriwitchet players).

Sports books aren’t usually my thing, but this one had a fantasy twist that got me excited: players bonded to winged animals, different species with different strengths and weaknesses, magical strategy layered on top of athletic competition. On paper, that sounds nice. In execution? I finished the entire book and still don’t understand how carriwitchet actually works.

The very first scene drops us into a match with zero context. Normally that’s fine, authors do that all the time, and the explaining comes afterwards. Except this book never really explains. Even by the end, I couldn’t tell you what the rules are, what most of the positions do, or how formations actually work. I have a vague idea of how you win a game, and that’s about it. The book constantly references formations, the tactical advantages of certain winged species over others, how matchups between teams create strategic opportunities, but I barely saw any of this play out in a way that made sense, or how it translated into gameplay advantages you could actually exploit.

The magic system has some genuinely cool ideas, but it’s never fleshed out enough to feel solid. We’re told there are different species (vampires, warlocks, witches, etc) and that there’s tension between certain groups, but it never goes deeper than surface-level mentions. We know there are institutions that regulate magic since some magic is illegal (which I actually found interesting as a concept), but the how and why remain frustratingly vague.

Take the glyphs as an example. The whole magic system for the carriwitchet players revolves around witches and warlocks drawing glyphs on their skin with a qyl, and these glyphs give them temporary powers. Cool premise. But how do people get their qly? Only witches and warlocks use glyphs, but have other species try to manipulate it to somehow use it too? Some glyphs fade, some don’t, why? What determines that? There’s a school to learn them, but does everyone go? Are there self-taught witches? Which glyphs are legal vs. illegal, and why?

And here’s the wildest part: players use glyphs during matches (agility, balance, etc) but we’re never told why they’re allowed, which ones are allowed, or whether this creates an unfair advantage. Are there regulations? Is there a maximum amount of glyphs you can use? Which levels of glyphs are allowed in the game? It felt like Kim had a bunch of cool ideas but didn’t stop to think through how they actually work as a system. The pieces are interesting; the connections between them are missing.

I’ll also echo what some other reviewers have said: this book could’ve been shorter. There were stretches where I was fully invested, and then suddenly I’d hit a scene that just… dragged. I get that pacing requires breathers, so high stakes moments actually hit hard. But some of these scenes felt like they weren’t deepening character relationships, advancing the plot, or adding texture to the world. And that made the pacing feel really uneven.

Kim’s writing style is solid when it comes to character dynamics. She’s clearly comfortable writing romantic tension, banter, and team camaraderie. But the style skews more contemporary romance than I’m used to, and I think that’s where the mismatch happens. This book reads like a contemporary sports romance (think hockey romance) with fantasy elements layered on top, not a fantasy book with a romantic subplot. If you love contemporary romance, that’s probably going to work great for you. For me, someone who gravitates toward fantasy-first storytelling, wasn’t a great match.

If you’re looking for a nice enemies-to-lovers and you’re okay with some significant world-building gaps, there’s a lot to like here. But if you’re hoping for a richly developed fantasy sports world with a well connected magic system and a sport you can actually visualise? This isn’t going to scratch that itch.

[Dotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 stars, rounded up

The Winged Game by Sophie Kim is a sports romance novel set in the magical towns of the United Kingdom. Our female main character, Taissa Cho, has been disgraced because of the use of an illicit rune that ruined her career. Her rival, Kion Locke, is our male protagonist, struggling with a team that in two years has plummeted to the bottom of the rankings. Kion and Taissa had a long rivalry before Locke turned her in for the illegal rune, but the hatred between these characters runs deep. Kion recruits Taissa to be on their team to save it from the brink of dissolvement, but the two end up forced into a fake-dating plot in order to keep Taissa’s involvement in the team a secret. In the process, they discover a conspiracy against their team and their sport, and spend their time trying to figure out the cause of all the chaos.

The Winged Game is advertised as being a Romantasy book with a sports romance element. However, I would argue against that classification. This book is a contemporary sports romance book, from the plot to the characters to the pacing to the texting to the tropes. This romance happens to be in a fantasy setting. Calling this Romantasy neglects the larger movements in the genre, specifically the larger-scale stakes and the epic fantasy settings. People expect certain things when you say “Romantasy” or even “fantasy”, and this book does not follow those rhythms. The Winged Game is a dual point of view sports romance centering on a fictional sport involving magical creatures, but it is, at its core, a sports romance.

The premise—sports romance with magical creatures—was very well done. The fake dating plot is fun, the characters have good banter, elements from throughout the book are woven well, with small details coming to have later impact. The magic system is well thought out and not overdone: witches and wizards are humans with magical powers draw runes in order to cast spells; bonding runes connect riders to their Winged; and other magical creatures exist as the “Unseelies”. Everything was easy to understand and consistent, which is always nice. The story also ends various chapters with the captions and comments from an Instagram-style social media, which lends itself to interesting discussion. Usually I really dislike when authors use things like texting or social media, but this was used effectively to prove a point.

The found family elements of this book were very solid, with our side characters having a lot of depth. The team has real growth both as a collective and as individuals. This book is advertised as a stand-alone, but the side characters could easily be spun into their own romances to create a series of interconnected romances.

The story also spent a lot of time talking about trauma, both abuse from the experience of a child and the online hate that we see so prevalent in our culture today. Because of her “cancellation”, Taissa receives an enormous amount of painful and damaging comments, which our author dives into the experience of notoriety in our modern world. We also have a character who was the victim of physical abuse, and the story really works to detail and explain the various ways that this impacts him and prevents him from interacting with the world around him. This depiction was well-done, though I hope that any copies of this book will be very clear about the trigger warnings.

My largest qualm for the book was a plot hole that was left open for far too long. In the second chapter, we find out from Taissa that she was forced into the luck rune by her coach, and that no one would believe her when she told the truth. In the third chapter, we see Kion perform a simple Truth rune, which casts a spell in which the person is incapable of lying. It seems obvious that when presented with a conflict, officials would simply put a simple truth rune on both Taissa and her coach, and see what is real. Taissa later explains in the book why she was afraid to use the rune, which were legitimate reasons, but I wish that those motives were given earlier in the story. For most of the first half of the book, I was distracted by the obvious injustice of Taissa’s experience, when it seemed like there was an obvious solution that would have cleared everyone. If her reasons had been even briefly explained earlier, I might have been able to connect with the story more.

Altogether, this was an excellent sports romance. This book should not be marketed as a Romantasy book or a fantasy novel, as both feel like they have specific definitions in the cultural zeitgeist. This is a sports romance set with magical elements, and very well done sports romance at that. I’ll definitely have to go back to visit more of Kim’s writing, as this was very well thought out and enjoyable.

This book had one scene that was explicit, lasting a few paragraphs. It was not graphic in its description.

A big thank you to Del Rey for this advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Glory · Rating 5 out of 5]

'you’re mine to hate.'
︵‿︵‿୨✧₊⊹☆⊹₊✧୧‿︵‿︵
~ 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 ~
✨ dual pov
✨ fake dating
✨ rivals to lovers
︵‿︵‿୨✧₊⊹☆⊹₊✧୧‿︵‿︵

~ 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 ~
I was already a huge fan of Sophie Kim after reading her previous series, Fate’s Thread and with her newest work that just further cemented my love for her books. The Winged Game is just the perfect concoction of humor, romance, and incredibly delightful characters that had me connected with them and their story-lines. If I could give it infinite stars I would.

I’m pretty neutral when it comes to sports books, but The Winged Game is so addictive that it really has me singing a different tune and that can partly be because of how it perfectly balances the sports aspect with a really engaging dramatic mystery that is waiting to be uncovered and having the addition of the winged beasts that can communicate with their bonded players that really ups the entertainment level. It really is such a fun book that has a lot of heart that had me loving every single page.

I should note that the novel does read like a stand-alone with everything being wrapped up at the end and no cliffhangers, but if there’s somehow more cause apparently this was a two-book deal (from the announcement post on ig) I would absolutely read it given how much I loved the world.

~ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 + 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 ~
There’s such a sharpness to the prose that I absolutely adore because of how it manages to juggle between its witty dialogue and nailing its more emotionally raw vulnerable moments.

The world itself just feels so lived in and magical with the different fantastical creatures, it just makes it so effortless to just get immersed in it. There are so many little details that add a more intricate spin on familiar elements. For instance, carriwitchet being more than just a typical sport, it’s played atop of winged beasts and the witch/warlock players are able to draw on a glyph that have multiple levels to give them an extra edge, this all just really added some layers to the world.

The plot itself kept me engaged and curious throughout. While I don’t think there’s some super shocking twist, I also didn’t really know how things were going to get resolved which really kept me on my toes at the end.

~ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 ~
I just adored both Taissa and Kion, their perspectives were both humorously witty and exciting at times which made following them such a fun ride. With Taissa I just love her entire energy, she’s fiery and the kind of person that you want on your team which makes it even more heart-breaking that the world just turns on her.

There’s also something about Kion that has me loving him just as equally. It’s really a rare instance of loving both the main characters to the point, it's actually a struggle to pick a favorite amongst the two. Kion at times does feel like Seokga from The God and the Gumiho but in a different font with his similarly grumpy exterior and sweet interior that makes him equally as endearing. Kion is also completely different in that he has a found family with his team who he lives and breathes for. His traumatic past just makes me want to give him a hug.

~ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 ~
The dynamic between Kion and Taissa is very much ‘you are the bane of my existence, but yet you’re the object of my all attention in which I spend all day thinking about you even though you’re my enemy’ sort of vibe, that absolutely had me eating up every moment between them. Their relationship just easily rings true that there’s a very thin line between love and hate. The barbed remarks and their energy of vexing one another really is just another form of intense flirting and it's clear they are very much actually enchanted by one another.

While it seems that Taissa and Kion know each other extremely well given how deeply their rivalry ran, in reality they have terribly misjudged one another. With crucial aspects and truths starting to be unveiled it shows they are actually mirrors of one another. They are both similarly stuck in their heads and having angry hurt hearts due to the trauma they endured, but in spite of that they both love hard for those they care about.

Oh my gosh the moment in which Taissa and Kion have to do a photo-shoot, the electric chemistry and heated tension between them in how it builds up to a burning scene is just so damn good. I also might be a tad bit obsessed and smitten over Kion calling Taissa, sweetheart. The undercurrent of attraction with yearning for something more than just fake dating was truly A+ and had my heart fluttering.

ʚ♡ɞ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜 𝐷𝑒𝑙 𝑅𝑒𝑦, 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑚 𝐻𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑𝑠, 𝐼𝑛𝑘𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑐 ʚ♡ɞ

[Vippi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romantasy + sports romance? I was cautiously intrigued.
Actual result? I was feral.

This is Carriwitchet. And Carriwitchet is played in the sky on the backs of magical creatures. Yes, it’s an aerial sport. No, it is absolutely not Quidditch 2.0. The only thing they share is a casual disregard for gravity. The structure, the player roles, the objective—totally different. Each team rides a specific kind of creature (wyverns, dragons, Stymphs, cockatrices — yes, you read that correctly, I’m still giggling), and the goal is to steal three enchanted jewels from the opposing team’s tower and bring them safely back to your side.
It took me a minute to wrap my head around all the mechanics (ARC brain, we’ve all been there), but once it clicked? I was INVESTED. I would happily read a fully illustrated league handbook. I want stats. I want diagrams. I want merch.

We open two years before the main timeline, when Taissa’s career spectacularly implodes. She’s disgraced, blacklisted, scraping by after being pushed out of the Carriwitchet League. Then—because the universe has jokes—Kion shows up. Yes. That Kion. The rival. The one tied to her downfall. And now he’s asking her to join his struggling team, the Stymphs.
Oh, and because the team desperately needs good PR? They’re forced into fake dating.

This is enemies-to-lovers with actual bite.

Not the “we mildly dislike each other but you’re hot” flavor. I’m talking resentment. Years of it. Sharp edges (I mean, Taissa fantasies killing Kion with her crochet scarves!). I genuinely wondered how the author was going to redeem either of them in my eyes. And yet—slowly, carefully, through trust, communication, and unpacking trauma on both sides—she absolutely did.

The evolution from biting, sarcastic pet names to soft, deliberate ones? Elite.
The moment they switch from last names to first names? I transcended.

But the romance isn’t the only thing driving the story. There’s a curse plaguing the season—awful plays, worse luck, something clearly sabotaging the Stymphs. I did clock the culprit at one point (I felt very smug), but that didn’t lessen the tension. Watching everything unravel was delicious.

And the team? The Stymphs are chaotic sibling energy at its finest. When Taissa joins, they’re already fraying—losses on the field bleeding into silences and distance off it. The lack of trust shows. The camaraderie is cracked. What makes this arc so satisfying is watching them slowly knit themselves back together. Not just as teammates—but as a real family. The kind that tightens ranks when things get harder.
And seeing Taissa, who has lost faith in friendship and belonging, find her way into that family? That hit me right in the chest.

As for the worldbuilding: Sophie Kim once again proves she knows exactly how to thread folklore into contemporary storytelling without overwhelming the reader. If you’ve read The God & the Gumiho, you already know she blends myth, humor, and heart effortlessly. She absolutely lands it again here (or should I say… scores the jewel).

I don’t want to spoil anything, but I feel contractually obligated to scream about Cronus. I will not elaborate. Just know I am unwell.

What truly surprised me is how cozy this book feels. Yes, it’s high-stakes. Yes, there are curses and rivalries and aerial near-death situations. But the world feels warm. Safe. Like somewhere you could return to when real life gets overwhelming. I was smiling. I was laughing. I preordered a physical copy before I hit 30%. No hesitation.

If I had two tiny notes:
– Readers already comfortable with fae/folklore elements might settle into the lore a bit faster (though it’s absolutely accessible either way).
– The final stretch slightly accelerates the pacing. Everything is resolved cleanly—no plot holes—but I would have loved just a little more breathing room to savor those last reveals.

In conclusion: I devoured this book with the same chaotic enthusiasm certain mythological figures show toward their offspring.

Fantasy sports romance? ✔
Actual enemies to lovers? ✔
Forced fake dating? ✔
Unhinged bird energy? Absolutely ✔

One of my top reads of the year, no hesitation. And yes—I will be revisiting this magical sky league whenever I need to feel at home again.

—Thank you to NetGalley, Sophie Kim, and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the ARC copy of The Winged Game.

[Heather Pacella · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you grow up in a magical world full of winged beasts, sports like football or cricket are simply too pedestrian. Enter Carriwitchet, the violent sport played in the skies atop dragons, wyverns, hippogriffs, and other winged mounts. Taissa Cho, star player for the Wyverns, is quickly establishing herself as the top player in the UK's National Carriwitchet League, breaking records and raking in the awards and sponsorship deals left and right. However, her meteoric rise is quickly brought to a halt by her longtime rival, Kion Locke, who exposes her for cheating during a match and destroys her career. What follows is a miserable two years for Taissa, as she is hounded by the press, bullied online, and forced to work an awful job just to barely pay her bills. Forced into a reclusive life, all she can do is watch carriwitchet matches from afar and dream of the day she can get her revenge.

And, oh, does she get her revenge. Perhaps the only person who's had a worse two years is Kion Locke, who can only watch as he and his formerly-top ranked Stymphs fall all the way down to the bottom of the minor leagues. However, Taissa's glee is short-lived - for the offer to get back into the league and redeem herself comes from none other than Kion Locke himself. Missing the game she loves more than life itself, Taissa reluctantly agrees to join the Stymphs. However, her new contract comes with a catch - she must pretend to be in a relationship with Kion, bringing some desperately-needed positive media attention to the struggling team. Both Taissa and Kion find faking a relationship to be much easier said than done, as neither time nor distance has done anything to lessen their hatred for each other. However, they are forced to put their differences aside as a mysterious illness starts to spread throughout the winged creatures of the league, threatening both the lives of their beloved mounts and the future of carriwitchet itself.


The Winged Game was the first Sophie Kim book I've read and I loved it! As a reader that prefers traditional fantasy/romantasy over contemporary romance (including sports romance), I didn't know what to expect, but this was a fantastic book. It was the perfect blend of Harry Potter-meets-Ted Lasso - the fantastical setting of the Hidden Cities was perfectly blended with more realistic elements (such as smartphones, tabloids, social media, and toxic sports fandoms), and Taissa and Kion's teammates on the Stymphs made up a wonderful cast of side characters with a ton of heart. Though carriwitchet itself is not that high-stakes (at the end of the day, it *is* just a game), there's a lot of emotional depth added to the story as the team has to figure out how to put aside their differences and work together to save their Wingeds. Each member of the team has their own issues, and it was really wonderful watching them work together to overcome their traumatic pasts as they learned to trust each other. I will say though, that the first 25% of this book was quite rough - at the start, both Taissa and Kion were acting like extremely juvenile (and not particularly likeable) pre-teens, and though it was wonderful to watch them grow together and fall in love throughout this book, I was almost tempted to DNF at the beginning (though I am very glad I didn't!). However, I would still highly recommend The Winged Game to both fantasy and sports romance readers, and I really hope that Sophie Kim surprises us with some more stories set in this universe (in particular, I would love to see more of the Stymphs!).

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.