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RIVENNIA: A Game of Wagers
Not yet published
Expected 14 Feb 26"An excellently plotted and paced SF tale that also engages the heart." Kirkus Reviews
“Must read… Riveting speculative fiction that blends political intrigue with character studies.” Discovery
EVOLUTION IS NO LONGER NATURAL - IT'S POLITICAL
When Gren Moritz is elected head of the global government of Rivennia, he is ridiculed and isolated by others in power for his stance against the rise in genetic engineering. Following his inauguration, Gren is lured into the dark shadows of the Liffdom Lodges, a covert gambling syndicate that controls Rivennia. The Lodgers promise political backing, but it comes at a price – Gren must partake in a macabre wager. His fellow players are anxious analyst Samuel Rosendale and sharp-tongued supermodel Primula Zhang. As the stakes rise and the Lodgers’ true motives come to light, the rivals form an unlikely alliance, forced to navigate a treacherous web of power. The future of civilisation hinges on the choices they make.
“Must read… Riveting speculative fiction that blends political intrigue with character studies.” Discovery
EVOLUTION IS NO LONGER NATURAL - IT'S POLITICAL
When Gren Moritz is elected head of the global government of Rivennia, he is ridiculed and isolated by others in power for his stance against the rise in genetic engineering. Following his inauguration, Gren is lured into the dark shadows of the Liffdom Lodges, a covert gambling syndicate that controls Rivennia. The Lodgers promise political backing, but it comes at a price – Gren must partake in a macabre wager. His fellow players are anxious analyst Samuel Rosendale and sharp-tongued supermodel Primula Zhang. As the stakes rise and the Lodgers’ true motives come to light, the rivals form an unlikely alliance, forced to navigate a treacherous web of power. The future of civilisation hinges on the choices they make.
414 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 14, 2026
22 people want to read
About the author
Jaime Urencio
1 book8 followersJaime Urencio was born in Mexico City and has long made London his home. His career has been in corporate finance, primarily in the biotechnology sector. Rivennia is his debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 30, 2025
Rivennia starts off feeling like political sci-fi, but by the halfway point it’s clear it’s exploring something deeper. It’s about what it means to be human when technology starts rewriting the rules, and how little or how much control we really have as individuals.
The world building is immersive without ever feeling like an info dump. Gren Moritz is a strong central figure, but I actually preferred reading Primula and Sam’s chapters. Primula Zhang is outwardly glamorous but broken inside. And Sam Rosendale… I just wanted to hug him.
The writing is concise and beautiful without being showy, which results in a good pace throughout the novel (although things speed up in the last 1/3 of the book).
By the end, I felt reflective and inspired. It’s rare for a book to be this unpretentious and still hit so personally. If you like original stories that stay with you and make you feel something, this is it.
My overall rating is 4.5 stars, rounded up. Four stars for the writing, but five stars for the complex themes and the characters.
Many thanks to Sunrise & Rooster Press for providing me with with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is February 14, 2026.
The world building is immersive without ever feeling like an info dump. Gren Moritz is a strong central figure, but I actually preferred reading Primula and Sam’s chapters. Primula Zhang is outwardly glamorous but broken inside. And Sam Rosendale… I just wanted to hug him.
The writing is concise and beautiful without being showy, which results in a good pace throughout the novel (although things speed up in the last 1/3 of the book).
By the end, I felt reflective and inspired. It’s rare for a book to be this unpretentious and still hit so personally. If you like original stories that stay with you and make you feel something, this is it.
My overall rating is 4.5 stars, rounded up. Four stars for the writing, but five stars for the complex themes and the characters.
Many thanks to Sunrise & Rooster Press for providing me with with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is February 14, 2026.
November 3, 2025
I received an advance copy of this book, and very much enjoyed it. A delightful sci-fi thriller about gene manipulation, technological advancement, and humanity's future. The themes explored are extremely relevant for a modern context, so much so that I actually went on to do supplementary, non-fiction reading about some of the topics discussed, just to see what current science was saying (a very fruitful endeavor, I will add). The three main protagonists all go through vastly different paths throughout the story, showing you relevant sides of this futuristic world. While their paths do intersect at crucial points, there might not be as much interaction between them as one might hope. Nevertheless, the main story being told is a deeply engaging one, that will keep surprising you right up until the end. A definite recommend for those interested in the genres of speculative science fiction, or political-style thrillers.
November 19, 2025
Best thing I’ve read this year.
Thanks to Sunrise & Rooster Press for the ARC.
Thanks to Sunrise & Rooster Press for the ARC.
December 4, 2025
What a fantastic read, thoroughly enjoyed it. Couldn’t put it down!
Speculative fiction at its best!
Speculative fiction at its best!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rivennia
Rivennia, a Game of Wagers, this gripping futuristic fiction book, engages the readers since the start.
Published by Sunrise & Rooster Press, the author Jaime Urencio, asks the question for the readers to answer, Is it moral, to engage in genetic modification?
Gren Moritz is elected Chief Minister of all nations in Rivennia, fighting ultra humanism, should people accept how they are made?
Some different strong characters united by the same goal, condemn genetic edits.
As Gren and his new wife Lorelei arrive at The Human Order Temple, Ivor Voychenko, the Supreme Leader, organises a private audience with Gren, in which he offers useful guidance where it was needed, and promised political backing.
And then, it was the beginning of a frightening game which united Wren, with his fellow players, Samuel Rosendale, a resource analyst, and super model, Primula Zhang, against
Voychenko and The Liffton Lodgers, a covert gambling syndicate that controls Rivennia.
A compelling read, one of the best books that I have read.
Rivennia, a Game of Wagers, this gripping futuristic fiction book, engages the readers since the start.
Published by Sunrise & Rooster Press, the author Jaime Urencio, asks the question for the readers to answer, Is it moral, to engage in genetic modification?
Gren Moritz is elected Chief Minister of all nations in Rivennia, fighting ultra humanism, should people accept how they are made?
Some different strong characters united by the same goal, condemn genetic edits.
As Gren and his new wife Lorelei arrive at The Human Order Temple, Ivor Voychenko, the Supreme Leader, organises a private audience with Gren, in which he offers useful guidance where it was needed, and promised political backing.
And then, it was the beginning of a frightening game which united Wren, with his fellow players, Samuel Rosendale, a resource analyst, and super model, Primula Zhang, against
Voychenko and The Liffton Lodgers, a covert gambling syndicate that controls Rivennia.
A compelling read, one of the best books that I have read.
November 21, 2025
I want to start off by saying that Rivennia was one of the best sci-f I books I ever beta read. My favorite parts about Rivennia were the plot, word building and writing style. The writing was extremely smooth, clear and professional. I never once got confused or felt lost while reading. This is especially remarkable since Sci-Fi books are quite hard to comprehend especially in the first few chapters. But I had no problem like that whatsoever. The easy and smooth flow of the book made me want to read one chapter after the other. Not to forget the dialogues, they were spot on!
The worldbuilding was done wonderfully. At times, I almost forgot that I was reading because it genuinely felt like I was 'in' the book. It was the perfect ratio of sci-fi and thriller for me. I also ended up connecting with a lot of characters. Especially Lorelei, Gren and Sam. However, Primula and Gren's personality really stands out the most.
The book is really tense and engaging throughout, but the tension rises to another level as the story progresses towards the end. I was on the edge of my seat.
I would 100% recommend this book to sci fi and thriller fans.
-Kayinat Kashif
Beta reader/Developmental Editor
The worldbuilding was done wonderfully. At times, I almost forgot that I was reading because it genuinely felt like I was 'in' the book. It was the perfect ratio of sci-fi and thriller for me. I also ended up connecting with a lot of characters. Especially Lorelei, Gren and Sam. However, Primula and Gren's personality really stands out the most.
The book is really tense and engaging throughout, but the tension rises to another level as the story progresses towards the end. I was on the edge of my seat.
I would 100% recommend this book to sci fi and thriller fans.
-Kayinat Kashif
Beta reader/Developmental Editor
Review of advance copy received from Author
A fascinating read, captivating from start to finish!
October 27, 2025
Thank you to Sunrise & Rooster Press for the DRC of this book. Opinions are my own.
I'll start by saying that this is a good first attempt at a novel and there are the bones of a great story in here, but it gets weighed down by some fairly major flaws.
I so badly wanted to love this book. The blurb was very intriguing, and while it did deliver on those promises, it did so at a pace that was breakneck in some places and glacial in others. In a novel that I thought was going to be full of political intrigue, the point of view characters ended up being dragged by the nose through the events of the book, and there were very few moments of them having any actual agency, despite one of them being the head of state of the entire country. The book seemed to me very confused about what it actually wanted to be and politically incoherent. The prose was a little stiff and clunky, and the dialogue sometimes felt like an alien was trying its best to fit in on earth. Gren in particular was completely insufferable for the first two thirds of the book, only becoming bearable once he'd been humbled. I wish we'd heard more from Lorelei - she was an interesting character, and her fish out of water perspective of Lacunfort could've helped readers to get a grip of both there and Varcega without it feeling like an exposition dump. It felt like she was being sidelined in favour of Gren, her far less interesting husband. Her brief appearances did help with understanding the world, but I think more could've been done. Along with that, for the first half of the book, the perspectives switched FAR too often for my tastes, and that made it difficult to want to continue reading in a session when every 5 pages I was in somebody else's head, never getting a chance to settle into one character. I noticed that many characters were introduced but were never described beyond hair colour and texture, or with very minor details such as the shape of their nose, and later their "features" were called back to, without readers knowing what those features are. I have some other minor nitpicks, such as Gren describing how Clara had to push him to reach for higher offices, but her later saying it wasn't like him to back down from a challenge, but they don't detract too much from the quality of the book.
However, despite my criticisms, the last third of the book was fantastic. Some of it came a touch out of left field, but I went from dreading picking the book up to finding ways to sneak a page here and there, and Primula really came into her own here. The intrigue and suspense I was after finally made it onto the page in that section and it was wonderful. I also truly loved seeing a transgender character being handled with genuine care and sincere understanding. The transphobia he experienced in some small places was a bit uncomfortable but unfortunately incredibly realistic.
Overall, I think I liked this book, but it's a fondness with several caveats. As this is Jaime Urencio's first book, I will be intrigued to see how his writing ability grows and what further literature we will see from him in the future.
I'll start by saying that this is a good first attempt at a novel and there are the bones of a great story in here, but it gets weighed down by some fairly major flaws.
I so badly wanted to love this book. The blurb was very intriguing, and while it did deliver on those promises, it did so at a pace that was breakneck in some places and glacial in others. In a novel that I thought was going to be full of political intrigue, the point of view characters ended up being dragged by the nose through the events of the book, and there were very few moments of them having any actual agency, despite one of them being the head of state of the entire country. The book seemed to me very confused about what it actually wanted to be and politically incoherent. The prose was a little stiff and clunky, and the dialogue sometimes felt like an alien was trying its best to fit in on earth. Gren in particular was completely insufferable for the first two thirds of the book, only becoming bearable once he'd been humbled. I wish we'd heard more from Lorelei - she was an interesting character, and her fish out of water perspective of Lacunfort could've helped readers to get a grip of both there and Varcega without it feeling like an exposition dump. It felt like she was being sidelined in favour of Gren, her far less interesting husband. Her brief appearances did help with understanding the world, but I think more could've been done. Along with that, for the first half of the book, the perspectives switched FAR too often for my tastes, and that made it difficult to want to continue reading in a session when every 5 pages I was in somebody else's head, never getting a chance to settle into one character. I noticed that many characters were introduced but were never described beyond hair colour and texture, or with very minor details such as the shape of their nose, and later their "features" were called back to, without readers knowing what those features are. I have some other minor nitpicks, such as Gren describing how Clara had to push him to reach for higher offices, but her later saying it wasn't like him to back down from a challenge, but they don't detract too much from the quality of the book.
However, despite my criticisms, the last third of the book was fantastic. Some of it came a touch out of left field, but I went from dreading picking the book up to finding ways to sneak a page here and there, and Primula really came into her own here. The intrigue and suspense I was after finally made it onto the page in that section and it was wonderful. I also truly loved seeing a transgender character being handled with genuine care and sincere understanding. The transphobia he experienced in some small places was a bit uncomfortable but unfortunately incredibly realistic.
Overall, I think I liked this book, but it's a fondness with several caveats. As this is Jaime Urencio's first book, I will be intrigued to see how his writing ability grows and what further literature we will see from him in the future.
November 28, 2025
This was a political thriller, to begin with, having tinges of science fiction with its gene mutation subplot and then plunging into straight-out dystopian in the last 1/3rd, which was a complete win for me. A potboiler of a story that kept me on my toes while reading it.
A debut by author Jaime Urencio, this was an unexpected delight that had bubbles of vulnerability just when I thought arrogance would be thrust onto me. And the credit for such writing went to the author completely for giving me space to immerse myself in this worldbuilding.
3 main characters - Gren with wife Lorelei, Primula who stole the show, Sam who was everything I ever wanted in a hero and then some - they played their parts brilliantly. Each brought an additional POV. True, there were many other characters, who deserved to have a powerful voice in this story, but I thought the author was playing the long game. He laid down the breadcrumbs in this so they could come into their own in the next one. That was clever.
If I could have favorite characters - (of course, I can. I am the reader and reviewer) - then I would say Sam and Primula stole my heart. Sam with his earnestness and honesty, (so need that in my real life,) and Primula the one who hid her softness so deep that when it unfurled, it left me in tears. Crying alongside her, understanding her so much better.
The villains too had their say in this book, how could they not have? No book was complete without them. They managed to worm their way into the lives of all 3 characters, showing me how nefarious they could get. I loved the helplessness the main characters faced because I knew that would make them get larger than life to face the antagonists and shut them out for good. (vis-à-vis the sequel)
Like any debut, Rivennia carried the visions of the author along with his characters, bringing them to life with the strokes of his pen. This book was both unique and unexpected, with the characters staying in one corner of my brain, long after I finished reading it.
A debut by author Jaime Urencio, this was an unexpected delight that had bubbles of vulnerability just when I thought arrogance would be thrust onto me. And the credit for such writing went to the author completely for giving me space to immerse myself in this worldbuilding.
3 main characters - Gren with wife Lorelei, Primula who stole the show, Sam who was everything I ever wanted in a hero and then some - they played their parts brilliantly. Each brought an additional POV. True, there were many other characters, who deserved to have a powerful voice in this story, but I thought the author was playing the long game. He laid down the breadcrumbs in this so they could come into their own in the next one. That was clever.
If I could have favorite characters - (of course, I can. I am the reader and reviewer) - then I would say Sam and Primula stole my heart. Sam with his earnestness and honesty, (so need that in my real life,) and Primula the one who hid her softness so deep that when it unfurled, it left me in tears. Crying alongside her, understanding her so much better.
The villains too had their say in this book, how could they not have? No book was complete without them. They managed to worm their way into the lives of all 3 characters, showing me how nefarious they could get. I loved the helplessness the main characters faced because I knew that would make them get larger than life to face the antagonists and shut them out for good. (vis-à-vis the sequel)
Like any debut, Rivennia carried the visions of the author along with his characters, bringing them to life with the strokes of his pen. This book was both unique and unexpected, with the characters staying in one corner of my brain, long after I finished reading it.
October 30, 2025
An interesting yet unrealized story with characters that felt flat but overall showed some nice promise on a story that started political thriller and ended with dystopian, almost horror vibes.
You would like this if:
- You prefer a fast-paced story that focuses more on moving the plot forward than character development
- You have an interest in how the future of human gene editing may influence politics (though this is a central theme, it isn't truly explored in-depth)
- You like a mixture of genres: fiction, politics, a mystery and a little bit of horror
What I struggled with:
- Character differentiation: sometimes I had to flip to the beginning of the chapter to figure out the POV of the character
- A particular relationship between characters that I felt was rushed and didn't fit the story
- One particular character that felt important in the beginning of the story but ended up not being very important to the story - a plot device
The book took a sharp turn about 2/3rds in, which I particularly enjoyed. This is where the author shined in his writing, with more world-building.
The ending felt a little rushed. I would have liked a little more time to breathe with the how and outcome.
Thank you to Sunrise & Rooster Press for providing this eARC for review consideration via NetGalley. This did not influence my written review opinions or star rating.
You would like this if:
- You prefer a fast-paced story that focuses more on moving the plot forward than character development
- You have an interest in how the future of human gene editing may influence politics (though this is a central theme, it isn't truly explored in-depth)
- You like a mixture of genres: fiction, politics, a mystery and a little bit of horror
What I struggled with:
- Character differentiation: sometimes I had to flip to the beginning of the chapter to figure out the POV of the character
- A particular relationship between characters that I felt was rushed and didn't fit the story
- One particular character that felt important in the beginning of the story but ended up not being very important to the story - a plot device
The book took a sharp turn about 2/3rds in, which I particularly enjoyed. This is where the author shined in his writing, with more world-building.
The ending felt a little rushed. I would have liked a little more time to breathe with the how and outcome.
Thank you to Sunrise & Rooster Press for providing this eARC for review consideration via NetGalley. This did not influence my written review opinions or star rating.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Firstly, thank you NetGalley for the advance copy!
Rivennia sets out with such an intriguing premise and wasn't shy about its ambition. The world is thoughtfully constructed, layered with political tension, secretive power structures, and ethical questions that hint at a much larger story unfolding beneath the surface.
The start was a little slow for me I genuinely wasn’t sure where everything was heading. While the premise itself is compelling, the execution didn’t always land in the early chapters. The pacing I thought got good about 30% in. I appreciated the use of multiple POV's in bringing different story lines together for the plot, however at a point the frequent shifts in perspective also made it difficult at times to connect with the characters, and I occasionally had to double check whose POV I was reading. It kind of blended in (I think at the introduction of the dinner and the game of wagers)
Even so, it honestly was a good read with a lot to admire of Jaime Urencios' world. If you enjoy politically charged, genre blending fantasy with dystopian hints you will likely find a lot to appreciate. Rivennia shows a strong foundation and an author with interesting ideas, and I’ll be recommending it to my book club once it’s released as the premise alone makes for an interesting discussion.
Rivennia sets out with such an intriguing premise and wasn't shy about its ambition. The world is thoughtfully constructed, layered with political tension, secretive power structures, and ethical questions that hint at a much larger story unfolding beneath the surface.
The start was a little slow for me I genuinely wasn’t sure where everything was heading. While the premise itself is compelling, the execution didn’t always land in the early chapters. The pacing I thought got good about 30% in. I appreciated the use of multiple POV's in bringing different story lines together for the plot, however at a point the frequent shifts in perspective also made it difficult at times to connect with the characters, and I occasionally had to double check whose POV I was reading. It kind of blended in (I think at the introduction of the dinner and the game of wagers)
Even so, it honestly was a good read with a lot to admire of Jaime Urencios' world. If you enjoy politically charged, genre blending fantasy with dystopian hints you will likely find a lot to appreciate. Rivennia shows a strong foundation and an author with interesting ideas, and I’ll be recommending it to my book club once it’s released as the premise alone makes for an interesting discussion.
December 5, 2025
This book has a genuinely interesting concept, and I appreciated how ambitious the worldbuilding was. The political tension, the genetic engineering angle, and the secretive Lodge system all created a setting that felt fresh and full of potential. I could tell there was a lot of thought behind the structure of this world, and some of the ideas really stood out to me.
That said, I struggled to fully connect with the story. Even though the premise was strong, I had a hard time getting into the flow of the narrative. The pacing felt uneven to me, and I never quite found myself sinking into the characters or the emotional stakes the way I hoped I would. I liked the setup, but something about the execution kept me at a bit of a distance.
Still, I think readers who enjoy political sci-fi and morally complicated worlds may have a completely different experience. There is definitely a solid story here, along with themes worth thinking about. It just didn’t pull me in as deeply as I wanted it to, even though I can see the appeal.
Overall, a good book with a lot of potential, even if it didn’t fully click for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
That said, I struggled to fully connect with the story. Even though the premise was strong, I had a hard time getting into the flow of the narrative. The pacing felt uneven to me, and I never quite found myself sinking into the characters or the emotional stakes the way I hoped I would. I liked the setup, but something about the execution kept me at a bit of a distance.
Still, I think readers who enjoy political sci-fi and morally complicated worlds may have a completely different experience. There is definitely a solid story here, along with themes worth thinking about. It just didn’t pull me in as deeply as I wanted it to, even though I can see the appeal.
Overall, a good book with a lot of potential, even if it didn’t fully click for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2025
Rivenia: A Game of Wagers presents a visually stunning and deeply intriguing world, but ultimately, the high-stakes concept falls completely flat. The Lit Whisperer's take is that this book suffered from a fundamental disconnect between its ambitious premise and its narrative execution. The cover promises a sharp, tense, dystopian thriller, yet the "game" never manages to generate the promised tension or payoff. The rules of Rivenia and the wagers themselves felt vague, which left the narrative feeling frustratingly abstract. Furthermore, the characters were so focused on the mechanics of the world that they became emotionally distant, making it impossible to care about the outcomes of their risks. The author built an incredible-looking skyscraper, but the interior was empty. This was a hugely disappointing read that failed to deliver on its own promise of peril and sharp competition. I’m rating this a generous 1.5 stars because the cover is genuinely cool. Thanks Netgalley for this eArc
Review of advance copy
This isn’t just a sci-fi story about the future, it’s about power, fear, and the quiet compromises people make to stay relevant. Gren Moritz’s rise to global leadership and his pull into the Liffdom Lodges is chilling because it’s so believable. The idea of political support being tied to a grotesque “game” is smart, dark, and deeply unsettling.
What I appreciated most is how character driven the story is. Gren, Samuel, and Primula don’t feel like symbols or archetypes; they feel huma flawed, wary, and slowly forced into trust. The political intrigue never overwhelms the emotional stakes, and the pacing keeps the tension steady throughout.
This is thoughtful speculative fiction that asks hard questions without preaching. It stays with you after you finish, which is exactly what great sci-fi should do.
What I appreciated most is how character driven the story is. Gren, Samuel, and Primula don’t feel like symbols or archetypes; they feel huma flawed, wary, and slowly forced into trust. The political intrigue never overwhelms the emotional stakes, and the pacing keeps the tension steady throughout.
This is thoughtful speculative fiction that asks hard questions without preaching. It stays with you after you finish, which is exactly what great sci-fi should do.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rivennia is a masterful work of speculative fiction that combines political intrigue, moral complexity, and deeply human character studies. Jaime Urencio brilliantly crafts a futuristic world where ethics, technology, and power collide, keeping readers riveted through alternating perspectives and a high-stakes narrative.
The philosophical questions around genetic enhancements, assisted death, and human agency are thoughtfully explored, while the richly detailed world from Lacunfort’s tower city to the secretive Liffdom Lodges feels immersive and alive. Each character’s voice is distinct, their struggles compelling, and the story’s tension escalates with each revelation. A must-read for fans of intelligent, character-driven sci-fi.
The philosophical questions around genetic enhancements, assisted death, and human agency are thoughtfully explored, while the richly detailed world from Lacunfort’s tower city to the secretive Liffdom Lodges feels immersive and alive. Each character’s voice is distinct, their struggles compelling, and the story’s tension escalates with each revelation. A must-read for fans of intelligent, character-driven sci-fi.
November 28, 2025
Congrats to Jaime on his first book.
A Game of Wagers was a very interesting story. I am not sure Sci-Fi describes the genre. I think Sci-Fi dystopian is more accurate.
Jaime's world-building is so detailed at times that I felt like I was part of the story.
The characters could have used a little more development. Specifically, Loreli, who is the main protagonist's spouse. Maybe she will get her own book. Gren seems lost at first, but does find his purpose. Prym and Sam are a great couple.
I almost feel like this could have been two separate books with overlap.
Over all this is a fascinating book that was hard to put down.
A Game of Wagers was a very interesting story. I am not sure Sci-Fi describes the genre. I think Sci-Fi dystopian is more accurate.
Jaime's world-building is so detailed at times that I felt like I was part of the story.
The characters could have used a little more development. Specifically, Loreli, who is the main protagonist's spouse. Maybe she will get her own book. Gren seems lost at first, but does find his purpose. Prym and Sam are a great couple.
I almost feel like this could have been two separate books with overlap.
Over all this is a fascinating book that was hard to put down.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest evaluation of its merits.
I liked the premise of this book (genetic alternation), and the shifting POV was helpful in telling the story. On the other hand, the motivations and backstories of some characters were not fully formed enough to me and the (SPOILER ALERT) love triangle seemed sad and ended more with ambiguity rather than clarity.
I definitely would be curious to see more from this author.
I liked the premise of this book (genetic alternation), and the shifting POV was helpful in telling the story. On the other hand, the motivations and backstories of some characters were not fully formed enough to me and the (SPOILER ALERT) love triangle seemed sad and ended more with ambiguity rather than clarity.
I definitely would be curious to see more from this author.
Review of advance copy
RIVENNIA: A Game of Wagers is a gripping speculative thriller that blends political intrigue with high stakes moral dilemmas. As global leader Gren Moritz is drawn into a sinister gambling syndicate that controls humanity’s future, the story explores power, genetic engineering, and the cost of compromise. Smartly paced, character driven, and unsettling, it’s a thought provoking read that lingers long after it ends.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
RIVENNIA: A Game of Wagers is a smart, politically charged work of speculative fiction that reframes evolution and governance as instruments of power rather than progress. The use of a covert gambling syndicate to explore genetic engineering is both original and unsettling, grounding big ethical questions in very human stakes. Strong characterization keeps the political intrigue personal, making this a compelling read for fans of thoughtful, idea-driven sci-fi.
December 7, 2025
Huge thanks to Jaime for the ARC!
This book was such an interesting dystopian read. I really liked the way it explored power, politics, and the whole idea of engineered evolution. The characters pulled me in, and the tension in the world kept me turning the pages. It’s one of those stories that quietly sticks with you after you’re done.
This book was such an interesting dystopian read. I really liked the way it explored power, politics, and the whole idea of engineered evolution. The characters pulled me in, and the tension in the world kept me turning the pages. It’s one of those stories that quietly sticks with you after you’re done.
November 22, 2025
An interesting setting. It took a short while to get into it and to warm up to the characters but once I did, I was gripped by them. I absolutely loved that it didn't end the way I thought it would.
December 27, 2025
Fascinating from beginning to end. Great narrative!
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