The Game of Oaths

by S.C. Bandreddi

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The high stakes of The Hunger Games meets the rich magical setting of Caraval and the ensemble cast of Six of Crows in this heart-pounding YA fantasy, set in a magical circus in Belle Époque Paris.

Falan is determined to take revenge on the circus's ringmaster for her sister's death – but first she must survive a series of deadly rounds in the annual Game of Oaths tournament.

Trapeze artist Falan Sunkara is a contracted performer for Paris's famous magical circus, le Cirque des Ombres. Le Cirque is ruled by Jean-Pierre, ringmaster and Enchanteur, one of the few magicians in the city legally allowed to use magic for entertainment. But the glamour of the circus is just another illusion. Each year, twelve members must compete in the Game of Oaths, a brutal tournament watched by the city's elite. Only one will survive. Last year, Falan's sister was one of the unlucky eleven. This year, Falan is out for revenge.

"Riveting. Breathtaking. The sharp thrill of a deadly game mixed with the alluring spectacle of dark magic, and a cast of characters so fiercely vivid they had me in a chokehold from the first page." D. L. Taylor, author of The Beasts We Bury

"A captivating and brutal tale of magic and revenge that will leave you entranced, enchanted and unable to do anything but turn the next page." Ann Sei Lin, author of Rebel Skies

“The Game of Oaths is a journey through a historic Paris like you’ve never seen. An enchanting premise, a well-developed ensemble, and a deadly game that keeps you on your toes. Reading it is like walking a tightrope - except you never want to reach the end.” Brooke Archer, author of Hearts Still Beating

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Audiobook, Magic

434 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 2, 2026

About the author

S.C. Bandreddi hails from California’s Bay Area, where she grew up scribbling stories deep into the night and hasn’t stopped since. When she’s not putting words on paper, she’s usually gaming, rewatching her favorite movies, or at an arcade trying to win as many plushies as she can. She is the author of The Game of Oaths.

Reviews

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Game of Oaths is a book that left me feeling a bit torn. The story has genuinely strong bones: an alluring circus setting, a dangerous magical competition, and high stakes that should make this impossible to put down. At its best, especially during the game days themselves, the tension and pacing really worked for me. Those chapters were easily the strongest parts of the book and where the story felt most alive.

That said, I struggled with the execution. Much of the dialogue felt stilted, and the transitions between scenes were often choppy. Some character motivations, particularly Ronan’s, didn’t fully land for me, which made it harder to stay emotionally invested. The romance was very light, and the payoff never quite materialized in a satisfying way.

I also found myself wishing the magic played a larger role. Falan’s abilities felt like they should be central to the story, but they largely stayed in the background. I kept expecting a moment where her magic would truly manifest or help her escape a dire situation, but that euphoric breakthrough never really came.

Where the book surprised me was in the flashbacks. I don’t usually gravitate toward memory-heavy storytelling, but Falan’s recollections of her “sister” Lavanya were genuinely charming and added much needed emotional depth. Those moments helped ground the story and made the characters feel more human.

Overall, Game of Oaths shines brightest in its gameplay and world concept, but the setup and ending felt like the weakest points. With tighter dialogue, more believable motivations, and a stronger payoff, this could have easily gone from a 3 to a 5 star.

Thank you to Candlewick press and Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jassie Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carval meets the hunger games in this amazingly dark twisted adorable world!
Every page reeked of magic in a world of forbidden magic and betrayal.

Ps. Not much romance, barely even a kiss

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and to the author for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

The Game Of Oaths 4.5/5 ⭐️

I'm still gasping to this moment.

Don't forget to follow me on YouTube, where I post all about my favorite clean books! https://www.youtube.com/@ItsRenity

✨Plot✨

Caraval meets Hunger Games in an underground circus set in Paris✨

It’s 1896. Beneath a hotel in the heart of Paris is the famed le Cirque des Ombres, led by ringmaster and Enchanteur Jean-Pierre. But behind the dazzling spectacles, the circus performers are bound by magical contracts, also making them potential players in the annual Game of Oaths, an underground, bloodthirsty tournament watched by the wealthy elite. Twelve will compete. Eleven will die.

Seventeen-year-old trapeze artist Falan Sunkara is out for revenge. After her sister ended up as one of the unlucky eleven last year, Falan wants nothing more than to make Jean-Pierre pay for her death. When she’s chosen to compete in this year’s tournament, Falan is not above playing dirty and forging unlikely alliances. But to be the last one standing, she has to determine whom to trust and whose motives to question. Vengeance on top of survival is a dangerous gamble—and in games like this, the house always wins.

✨Characters✨

⚔️Falan⚔️
Falan is the ruthless FMC we have ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! While she was a bit coldhearted at times, it was so cool to follow a character who is mentally strong and not a softy who gives up etc etc. She was such a fun FMC, and I really hope more books are made about this world!

🔪Bellemay🔪
Imma be honest, I wasn't rooting for Bellamy in the love triangle because he was just kind of there most of the time, but it was still so cute to see how protective he got of Falan!

🖤Ronan🖤
I have no words. Wait, I have one: WHYYYYYYYYYYY
ok that's it.

🌹Channary🌹
I feel so bad for this girl's trauma and the back and forth, never knowing who to trust, and she is so young! Loved her!

✨Writing Style✨

Really magical, and I could clearly picture each and every setting perfectly! The third person confused me at times, but in the end, I loved this book and could not put it down! It kept me on the edge of my seat, and I never knew what was coming next!

✨⚔️Action⚔️✨

The action was INSANE! Also, the Game of Oaths games were crazy! I was on the edge of my seat internally gasping the entire time! I loved all the action, and there really wasn't a dull moment!

✨Would I Recommend It?✨

YESSSS! PLEASE READ THIS! If you love Caraval and Hunger games read this!! It's like if Hunger Games had magic and it was amazing!!

[Sierraaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, i would like to thank NetGalley, Candlewick Press, and S. C. Bandreddi for the opportunity to read and review this book early!

This book was a fun one, and kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what twist or shocking event would happen next. In The Game of Oaths, we follow Falan Sunkara, a young trapeze artist who is out for the revenge of her sister’s death. As part of a magical circus group, Falan has no choice but to work for Enchanteur Jean-Pierre, a sadistic ringmaster who enjoys the tremendous power he has within French society in 1896. and every year, a deadly competition takes place between 12 unlucky competitors from Jean-Pierre’s contracted performers. but this year? Falan is chosen to compete—but it’s okay, because she’s taking Jean-Pierre down with her if it’s the last thing she does

I actually really liked Falan’s character, even if she was definitely unexpectedly bloodthirsty. she is set on getting revenge for her sister’s death in last year’s Game of Oaths, and nothing will stop her. But I also like that she had a bit of a soft side that she showed to almost no one, as she was not very social with others and liked to keep to herself. And the other POV characters were interesting too, because most of them were Falan’s accomplices, and it was cool to see how they felt about Sunkara and her actions

I also liked the glamour of a circus setting in 1896 France! I’ve learned I really enjoy historical settings or time periods for fantasy books, and this one was no exception. The glamour of old circus performances coupled with extravagant parties for the rich held my attention from the start, and made for a good read overall.

[MyNeverEndingTBRList]

DNF at 28%. Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me.

[Kylee Baumbach · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little bit of this a little bit of that ahh book.

I did really want to like this book the premise sounded fun but the execution was poor and unoriginal. I think the magic system is fun for the most part, a bit underdeveloped in some areas but relatively original. For me this is about where my praise stops. Before I even read the summary i knew exactly which books had “inspired” this story and by “inspired” i mean ripped from with hardly any changes.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀! The characters were all poor imitations of far better characters from far better books. Jean-Pierre is Legend without the mystery. Jules is Wylan Van Eck without a personality. Ary is Rue. Ronan was Gale Hawthorne, dead sister and all. The whole concept of “lilies” are just the Careers. Have I made my point clear? This author doesn’t take a character she likes and create something original out of it, she just strips that character of anything interesting, leaving sad husks of an ensemble case you can’t connect to. The fmc is insanely devoid of anything interesting, she doesn’t connect with any characters (or the reader) and she’s just generally angsty and insufferable. Also shes just constantly getting beat up, absolutely torn to shreds for plot convince and then she’s just… fine?? No adrenaline is letting you RUN AND FIGHT the beating you just took off. I don’t think there was a single fight she survived because she was strong or smart. She was saved by someone else nearly every damn time. She’s not interesting to follow whatsoever. It’s also so painfully obvious she wanted a jude duarte horn hair moment with how many times falans “fox ear” hair style was mentioned, so cringe to read.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆! If i wanted to read the hunger games i would have. If i wanted to read six of crows i would have. i wanted to read something original and this was not it. the plot twists were painfully predictable and unsatisfying. Sooo much of this book could be cut out and it would make no difference whatsoever to the outcome. The experiences the fmc goes through do not change her, they do not develop bonds between the ensemble cast, they have no real impact whatsoever. All it felt like was a big waste of time. The actual games were not that long or interesting and that was like.. the whole draw of the book? Don’t even get me started on the time period/whatever date it’s set in becuase it literally does not matter. This book could be set in the 2020s and i wouldn’t bat an eye if you told me that becuase the dialogue, clothes, etc do not read as some old timey crap. And did it have to be in France? My two years of french in high school were put to the test here because there is a random french word at least twice a chapter and, hehe HALF THE TIME THERES NO TRANSLATION. It’s not hard to use context clues and my extremely rudimentary knowledge of the french language to get what she’s going for but that does not matter. I would loooove to know what i’m reading. If you’re using a language other than the one you’re writing in, offer a translation. I would’ve been happier if this was set in some other world in some country called like Fraq or something stupid. France has nothing to do with this book other than to throw a random french word in there or dabble in some race/class dynamics which are poorly explored and developed. This is nitpicky but it’s honestly pretty unclear what language the characters are even speaking to each other in . We’re in france but not everyone can speak or read french? some people speak english? some people speak other indian languages? WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERS SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER IN??? Does everyone just know english? unless i missed the memo on this one im lost. There are discussions about racism’s this book is trying to have but it just falls soooo flat. like yes the white people are exploiting the pocs yes this is a very real world issue so go into that explore that, break that down. it just feels like an excuse throughout the book rather than a meaningful mirror to real world issues.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲! There wasn’t next question. Pathetic little love triangle which almost could’ve been good. for a while i was genuinely stumped on who falon was gonna end up with, not that’s she had chemistry with either of them, but then the plot started favoring one and that’s when you know the other guy stands no change and is probably evil. Not even getting into the romance becuase there was nothing. There’s some flirting here and there and some ooh but i care about you so much even though i have no reason to. oh shuuut upppp. assss. hard to have chemistry between your characters when not a single one has a personality.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀! The ending of this book is wrapped up in a nice little bow, until the epilogue where evil man is being evil. It’s so painfully pushing for another book. But why would i want to read another book with shitty characters and shitty dialogue and shitty storytelling? it should stay a standalone becuase it think with better writing it could be a great standalone. not ever hung has to be a series. There’s so much i found frustrating throughout this book from little discrepancies to big ones but if i rattle them all off my thumbs just might start loosing feeling. This book could’ve been so good im just kind of sad.


TLDR: i want my ten hours and sixteen dollars back

[Mads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still don’t know what an affinity is and how you get one, was I supposed to guess? Does everyone have an affinity? Who knows because NOTHING WAS EXPLAINED!

[Fanna]

you promise me a vengeful mc and i come running. also, the hunger games meets the night circus

[Nerelle Donnelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A storyline that, on the surface, has similarities to The Hunger Games, but a depth that is further reminiscent of the Paris circus scene of a bygone century, with magic involved of course.

Locations are skilfully described, giving the reader the full experience of both the beauty and danger involved, woven with the magic that surrounds it. Costumes are eye-catching and the death-defying events will have you holding your breath.

The cast is large and as varied as you could possibly get, with the main protagonist being Falan, a troubled teenage trapeze artist, hellbent on staying alive to exact her revenge on those that have wronged her.

This one had me guessing all along. Trying to guess intentions, secrets, motives and of course, outcomes, but I will admit that there were many well executed twists and turns that like a great magic show, kept me totally entertained, out of my depth, and in a state of shock when it came to the events unfolding at the end.

A remarkable book with a magical storyline that will have you captivated and glad you didn’t get selected to be part of the Game of Oaths.

Thank you Better Reading and Walker Books Australia for my #gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date | 4 June 2026 | 14+ years

#BRPreview
#thegameofoaths
#scbandreddi
#tightropesandtrials
#walkerbooksaustralia
#walkerbooksuk
#walkerbooksya

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

solid 4 this was good. it took me a while to read though because it wasnt super riveting. also i liked the other games but the finale being a maze like COME ON this has been copied from harry potter four too many times. otherwise very creative and the world was very put together and unique and i could imagine it in my head well

[Risa · Rating 3 out of 5]

All in all, this was an entertaining read. But I think I just wanted more.

In the beginning chapters, I wasn’t really feeling the multiple POVs. As time went on, they grew on me and I understood why the author chose to have more than one POV. But I still think we could’ve narrowed it down to only two or three tops.

The characters were pretty good for the most part, with a couple of exceptions (which I talk about more in the spoilers section). I liked Falan enough as the main girl we’re following, and I understand why she was angry a lot of the time… but I feel like she only had one emotion, and that was rage. Even when she was in the wrong about something, it felt like she never expressed one ounce of guilt. (That’s not to say I think she should regret all of her actions; but there were some moments where I wish we saw more emotions from her besides anger.)

I also didn’t feel like the romances in this novel were very fleshed out, for any of our POV characters to be honest.

Additionally, I wish there had been at least one consistently positive female friendship in this book that I could root for. But that didn’t really happen, which was a bummer.

As far as the plot goes, the Game of Oaths competition started off being really exciting with the first round! Then as the rounds went on, the games got more and more boring, in my opinion. Also, despite this being a multiple POV book (where anything can happen in terms of character deaths), I never truly felt like our main characters were in serious danger.

I also thought that the magic system was really cool from the start! But by the end, I was left with more questions than answers in terms of how certain elements worked.

Ultimately I found this book to be a good (not great) read. And I could see myself reading more from this author in the future.



NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:

(Apologies if I got any names or terms wrong; I was listening to the audiobook and some things were hard for me to understand because of the French accent.)


- The prologue with the gunmaker is intriguing. I’m a sucker for a magical circus story!


- Our characters playing poker in the graveyard was a fun opening! It was a bit anti-climatic how Falan managed to escape getting caught by the man with magic that they swindled, but I like the idea of it nonetheless. And Mira is a fun side character.


- The magic system is really compelling, with the binding contracts and the affinities! I wish that there wasn’t so much telling/info dumping to explain it all in the opening chapters, but I still find this world intriguing.


- Interesting that Falan doesn’t get the same affinity ecstasy thrill as other performers. I wonder why.


- I appreciate that this takes place in Paris, but all the French is a bit distracting, especially when not every word is provided with context clues.


- I appreciate the Game of Oaths is sort of like a Hunger Games in remembrance of the magical riots.


- I’m excited to see how Falan plans to get revenge after being chosen for the game!


- Ooh another POV with Bellamy caught me off guard. I’m an hour into the audiobook, and it feels jarring and random to be honest, even if his opening is compelling.


- I can understand why the man let Bellamy go, to get him the 300k francs. But I don’t understand why he said he has a week and just let him flee without making him sign another contract first, to ensure he doesn’t just run.



- I like that Bellamy and Falan have worked together on grifts and Josh before. Ana Falan agrees to give him 300 francs if Bellamy (who is a dealer that assists with the game) helps her win.
-

- I have a feeling there will be a love triangle between Falan, Ronan, and Bellamy. With Bellamy being the obvious choice.


- Wait, another POV? Ugh. I don’t think we need Jule’s(?) pov. And having him just read a chapter from his smuggled book about the history of the world is boring and a lazy way to world-build.


- The Joker sounds like an intriguing Hunger Games type deal. I’d love to see what happens if Falan ends up being the Joker, which I think will happen since they didn’t go over what she should do.

- I will say though that the explanation regarding the Joker’s illusion was very confusing. I listened to it twice and still don’t understand that element of the rules.



- Ooh, so Falan and her sister actually met on a ship—so they aren’t related by blood.


- I appreciate that we get to know all the competitors’ names, but just putting them all together in one big list again and again is not going to make me remember anyone’s name (outside of those we met in a more intimate group).



- So Falan is not the Joker—too bad, it would’ve been more interesting to see how she handles that. Also it’s kinda odd that Lucien and her didn’t go over the possibility of the Joker. (I thought it was a style choice because she was going to be picked and it would create conflict, but no.)


- That’s cool that the setting is a circus, and the music box gets louder when the Joker is near.


- Okay do I just finished the Joker round…and ngl, it was kind of anti-climatic. Like I know three people died, but I never truly felt like Falan or Ronan were in real danger. I also didn’t couldn’t visualize the game setting all that well as Falan was moving around the circus illusion.



- While I appreciate learning more about Falan and her sister’s relationship, all these flashback chapters are killing the pacing.


- And now we get Ari’s POV, 36% Inyo the story? Ugh there really are too many POVs.


- And Mira’s a terrible friend—telling Ari she can’t trust Falan because Falan killed someone who would’ve had her killed first…


- So round two is basically a game of tag, where whoever has the least number of players loses. It’s a decent idea, but the execution is not as exciting as I through these trials were going to be.

- Also the forest setting with snow that’s hard as ice and storms and tight ropes, and a golden clock and leader board—there are a lot of details mentioned, but I’m struggling to visualize this arena as well.


- 46% in: I wonder if one of these men running the circus is actually Falan’s biological father.


- Okay…so based on that flashback of Falan signing the contract, it seems her actually affinity is not acrobatic work?


- Wait so if they are frozen in this game of tag, why can they still speak? That wasn’t clarified, but the lilies are speaking.


- I’ll be honest, I also am still bothered at how quickly Mira turned on Falan. I was looking forward to seeing a powerful female friendship in this novel, which was suggested at the start, and we didn’t get that. (It almost feels like the author just wants to give justification for if/when Mira and/or Ari die later on in the games.)




- Awww that’s too bad about Seville. I like him, more than Ronan actually.


- I’m glad Ari wasn’t murdered by the Jean-Pierre’s pistol. But man, between Falan getting stabbed in the arm, and stabbing someone else, to Hugh getting shot, this game is dark. And the description of it is dark too.


- I think the moment Falan fell off the stilt was probably the only time I was worried for her. Now granted, I knew she wouldn’t die (because there’s way too much book left); but I like that she was hurt.

- I will say though, the fact that magic fixed her stab wound completely feels a bit too easy. Not that I wanted her to be hurt (and I’m still rooting for Falan to win), but still…



- The fact that Bellamy is so uneasy about Ronan and Falan’s alliance tells me that Ronan is in fact going to betray Falan at some point. (Which I always anticipated, as the future loser of the love triangle.)


- I bet Falan is one of those obstruction magical people that was mentioned from the magical book earlier… and that’s why she doesn’t feel the ecstasy of an affinity.


- So Falan confided in someone three weeks before the game of oaths where her sister died. I wonder who—my guess is Mira or Ronan, probably Mira.


- These games are getting dumber to be honest. The Impalement? Why would that be a game where you have to hit a target (but not your partner) where there are literal knife throwers in the competition? How is that fair at all? (Not saying this competition has been evenly matched, but it seems ridiculous to me that the circus knife throwers would have such a blatant advantage.)



- When Falan says don’t trust Mira, I wonder if she told Mira about her sister wanting to sever the contracts so they can leave? Also, it won’t surprise me if Mira ends up killing Ari (or vice versa in self defense).


- Uh oh—Colette having a long sword is gonna be a problem!


- Also, I feel like it was a missed opportunity to have everyone pair up with someone they didn’t like—like putting Falan with Sylvester or Colette (or even Mira), because then there’s actual tension with them having to work together but wanting to kill each other. That would’ve been so much more interesting!



- I’m glad Falan hit her targets. But I find it hard to believe that after practicing one day with Lucien, she was able to hit all her targets (and the hardest three out of the six at that) easily. She only missed once.


- Yep, I had a feeling it was Mira who told Jean-Pierre about Falan’s sister’s plans. I’d be curious to know why. Not surprised that Falan killed a wounded Mira for revenge.

- I will say though, while I guess this twist. I don’t understand why Mira told JP about Lebena and Falan planning to leave the circus? (And I was hoping we would get an explanation, but we didn’t.) I’m just saying, if I’m Mira, why wouldn’t she ask Falan to have her sister free her as well (assuming Mira was jealous and wanted to leave too)?



- So Bellamy checked the safe and saw that Jean-Pierre has all the contracts attached to some magical object? Which tells me everyone is going to band together (minus Sylvester, and maybe Ronan as far as remaining competitors go) at the end to destroy that object so they can all be free.

- It was definitely way too easy for Bellamy to sneak into the office though; so maybe Jean-Pierre will reveal later that he has some magical way of knowing? (I hope so, otherwise that’s too easy.)


- So Blanche wants to have the finale tomorrow, that’s kind of random—why not draw it out? Better yet, did the competitors have a set number of rounds that they anticipated, because I don’t believe we were ever told what it was.



- Okay so Ronan and Ari caught the four having a meeting. I guess we knew that would happen.


- So Jude/Jule (idk his name because the accent makes it hard to make out) says Falan has the same affinity as Jean-Pierre. It’s kind of annoying that we’re still being vague about it after all this time, when we’re about 2/3 into the book.


- So it sounds like Bellamy killed his grandfather accidentally (the hit the head on the corner of the table by accident when I pushed him is so… it’s been done so many times before, and I find it to be a stupid freak accident that so many writers rely on). And I guess drunken Bellamy basically confessed his love for Falan back when he was drunk.


- What I don’t understand is that Bellamy told Falan that the guy he owes money to would rather make an example out of him than get his money back. If that were true, why hasn’t that guy ordered his men to kill Bellamy by now? His men are following Bellamy but not doing anything other than basically threatening to kill him in the future. Why are they waiting if their boss doesn’t actually care about the money? And why is Bellamy going after the money if he believes that kingpin guy doesn’t care about it? (That one like made such an unnecessary plot hole.)



- Seems rather dumb that Falan has been careful all this time, and the one time she goes back to her room (and doesn’t think to go elsewhere) is when Sylvester was in there waiting for her. How did Sylvester even know that was Falan’s room, given she never spent the night in there?

- I guess Ronan appeared and saved the day—convenient given he said he didn’t want to align with her anymore.


- Also this is an aside, but I love that Falan is a badass who isn’t afraid to kill people for revenge. But I feel like she should’ve at least had some sort of reaction to killing someone the first time—like a shock about it. Because she does kinda come off as a sociopath with how cold Falan’s mentality is (which was maybe the author’s plan, but still). I get she’s pissed that her sister died, but I still feel like the “they deserve it” / “get them before they get me” mentality could’ve been fleshed out a bit more with her at least thinking about her first kill and how strange it felt since she’d never killed anyone before.


- I’m sorry—the first time Falan cried for someone was when Lebana died? Not when she lost her mother and brother?? I find that hard to believe.


- I have a feeling Jude/Jule is going to use magic to heal Falan. (Yep, I was right.)


- I don’t really understand why Jean-Pierre would want someone to break into his office? He didn’t know it was going to be Bellamy, or that the kingpin would come and tell him it was him. So yeah, that didn’t make sense to me.


- So Ronan ignores Lebana because she liked him and he didn’t have feelings back…because Ronan had a crush on her sister Falan? The girl who was rude to him and vice versa??? Nah, that it feels like we’re just making all the boys love Falan just because she’s the special main character.



- I like how the setting of each arena becomes more snowy than the last.


- Aw man. I understand why Jude told his father the truth (to keep his fingers from getting cut off), but it’s a bummer that he did. (I’m sure the crew will still win in the end though.)


- Dang, did Ronan choke out Ari? Why Ronan???


- Good, I’m glad Falan killed Sylvester by stabbing him again and again with that thorn! That’s probably the one kill she’s done that actually felt satisfying to see as the reader! (His, and maybe Colette’s death too.)



- I have a feeling they are going to frame Jean-PIerre for the death of that man that tried to kill Bellamy and Lucien in JP’s office.


- I wonder if the gray stone holding the contracts is what the final players are trying to find in that maze? Seems reckless of Jean-Pierre to do that though.


- I mean, we all could’ve guessed that Ronan was going to betray her. I guessed that! But with a knife? That seems…anti-climatic and a bit obvious?


- Adrenaline or not, I find it hard to believe that Falan, already weak, gets stabbed with a knife, and then manages to throw it right at Ronan and then tackle him.


- That’s fucked up—so it was Ronan, not Mira, who told Jean-Pierre about the sisters’ plans to run away? And Falan killed Mira for it? I mean…yeah obviously Ronan is a bad guy. But that honestly makes me no like Falan, for killing Mira so recklessly.

- Also, while Falan is angry at Ronan, it feels like she’s angrier about Ronan betraying he group than she is about the fact that he let her kill Mira. Like yes, she doesn’t acknowledge that Ronan let her believe it was Mira’s fault, but still…I wanted Falan to feel far more upset with herself for killing Mira without being sure she was the one who ratted her out.


- A lot of the dialogue for this villain monologue conversation feels a bit stilted, to be honest. Ronan telling them their whole plan—I mean fine. But Ronan saying “you can’t send me to hell, your hands are still tied up” or whatever is just dumb.


- I’m sorry but no—there is NO WAY that Jean-Pierre wouldn’t take the stone from Falan before or after tying her up! And it’s still stupid that Jean-Pierre would even make that the item that they needed to collect, regardless of whether the game was rigged in Ronan’s favor to not!

- Nope sorry—her pulling it out other pocket and smashing it at the end is way too easy.

- OKAY GOOD. HE TRANSFERRED THE MAGIC BEFOREHAND.

- It feels a bit silly/contrived that the item Lebano was looking for, but never found before she died (the mirage diamond), just so happens to be where Jean-Pierre transferred the magical contracts to. I also find it dumb that Jean-Pierre was basically like “gee, I wonder where I transferred the contracts to”, and then looks directly at the mirage diamond, giving it away. Like COME ON! He’s been proven to be way too smart of a villain for that.

- Also, I feel like it’s rather dumb/silly that Jean-Pierre would place all his contracts into one singular item. Just logistically, it’s a moronic move for a business man to make.

- I mean, I can understand maybe not wanting to keep them as paper contracts, since it’d be too obvious for someone to find and destroy. But why not put each contract into its own magical item, that way if someone steals/destroys one, it doesn’t take down his ENTIRE BUSINESS??? I just don’t buy that anyone would do that.



- Yes, of course both Falan and Jean-Pierre are obstructions! It’s so obvious!!! (Honestly all of these twists, except for Ronan actually being the one who ratted out Lebana, were obvious to me!)


- Yep, I was right—JP was framed for that man’s murder in his office.


- Good, I’m glad Jude was always still on their side. So it sounds like Jude told the police that his father was working with JP, and maybe helped steal the diamond? The mirage diamond (that he illegally bought?)? I actually thought it was just going to be that his father abused him, but nope. I am confused about why Jude had to heal the thug’s ankles after Lucien cut them though—to hide what suspicions?


- Also, I don’t understand why JP didn’t just use his powers to escape the police, or at the very least torture Falan and co to death, like he almost did to Bellamy. I mean, earlier, JP said that he could make an illusion for the entire world… so why wouldn’t he do that so that he could then avoid jail time?

- I think the ending in regards to what JP and Blanche were arrested for could have been better explained. (I understand JP is framed for murder? But he also has the diamond, or is that Blanche?) But I like the idea of the two men framing each other and making it worse for each other.

- Question though—are they officially free from the contracts or not? Are they still tied to the mirage diamond?

- Ah okay—so Jude secretly transferred the contracts into Bellamy’s deck of cards. I quite like that, actually! Especially since all the players were giving playing card nicknames in the Game of Oaths!

- Though I question how Jude was able to do that without anyone noticing? Especially since he’s no expert at magic.

- I liked the ending with Falan's euphoria with Bellamy. And burning the cards.

- I liked the JP epilogue.

[I ran out of space for notes. All in all, the book is okay.]

[Adibah(whatdibsread) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story follows Falan Sunkara, a seventeen-year-old trapeze artist performing at the Cirque des Ombres. After losing her beloved sister in the previous year's Game of Oaths, Falan is determined to get revenge against the cruel ringmaster Jean-Pierre and the entire system that destroyed her family. When she is chosen as one of the twelve competitors in the next tournament, she sees it as her chance to finally make those responsible pay.

The Game of Oaths had everything I normally love in a fantasy novel: a magical circus, a deadly competition, revenge and betrayal. A perfect combination of The Hunger Games and Caraval. I actually liked Falan a lot. She isn't the kind of heroine who spends chapters questioning her motives. She's angry, stubborn, reckless, and completely driven by vengeance. Sometimes her obsession made her difficult to connect with emotionally, but it also made her feel real.

Aside from that, the circus setting of this book in enchantingly beautiful. The author paints a vivid picture of glittering performances, illusion magic, extravagant costumes, wealthy spectators, and dangerous secrets lurking behind the curtains. Paris in 1896 felt alive on the page. Every performance, every underground gathering, and every game felt cinematic. Once the competition starts, I found myself to be curious on finding out who could be trusted and what secrets everyone’s hiding.

Unfortunately, while I enjoyed parts of it, the execution didn't fully live up to the incredible concept. The pacing of this book felt uneven, especially in the beginning. It took me a while to be invested in this book. Even the characters are a little underdevelop. I wish to understand more of their desires but it barely scratching on the surfaces. Though I was captivated by the setting, I wish there were more exploration on how the magic system worked.

Overall, it was a fun read for me. Thank you #Pansing @definitelybooks for sending me this ARC in exchange for a review. This book is now available at all good bookstores.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded to 4; an ambitious debut set in late 1800s Paris with influences from The Hunger Games, Six of Crows, and The Night Circus. I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Candlewick Press and NetGalley.

Falan is driven by revenge to participate in this year's Cirque des Ombres, a magical fight-to-the-death competition every year that has the winner set with riches and fame. She's not interested in riches or fame however, her sister was in last year's competition and she knows that her death wasn't a mere casualty of the competition, but a deliberate murder from the ringmaster in charge of the competition, Jean-Pierre. But Falan can't defeat Jean-Pierre alone, and hatches a plan for vengeance that involves her sometimes-accomplice Bellamy, and inadvertantly also brings in the previous winner of the competition, the competition venue's owner's son, and even Falan's acrobat partner. Falan has to decide how much she can trust her helpers as she fights and strategizes her way through the deadly rounds trying to avoid former friends and foes.

While I recognize a lot of influences from other works in this story, I think S.C. Bandreddi has done well in making their setting, characters, and plot truly their own thing. You may see traces of Six of Crows in the characters, some The Hunger Games in how the structure of the competition is set up, and of course, the circus setting somewhat reminiscent of The Night Circus. But Falan is a more ruthless protagonist, and the other characters have their own backstories and perspectives too that you can't help but feel for almost everyone who is trapped in some way or another by this competition. This actually might have been one of the weaker parts of the book however, since every chapter was another perspective and everyone was doing something different, it was hard to focus and remember what was going on with the other characters. I also thought the racial divide between the underdog and the more successful competitors had too much telling and not enough showing, it's possible it had to be more plainly mentioned since this is a YA novel but as an adult, it is very clearly mentioned over and over again.

The worldbuilding was interesting but felt limited in scope. People may have an innate magical ability, but upon signing a magical contract, their abilities are magnified and even exponentially increase in power. Magical abilities are also feared by the general public and those under contract are supposed to be held in check and is why the competition is made up of magic users in the first place. However, the story is only really focused on Paris and it's unclear if the rest of the world operates this way. We learn a bit about where our protagonists are from, but there isn't a lot of detail about their abilities from their countries of origin. The book ends with a possible thread for a sequel, and I hope there's more we can learn about this world that this first book didn't cover.

Finally, a smaller thing that bothered me was that while Falan is a gifted acrobat, we rarely see her use her skills in the competition and I thought that was a missed opportunity as we rarely see any acrobatic main characters in (young adult) fantasy. Despite my concerns with the book, I do think this is a solid debut with a unique setting, and would encourage anyone interested in the premise to check it out!

[Pine Reads Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

“After all, somebody told Jean-Pierre of Lavanya’s intentions to leave. And Falan only confided in one person.”

Falan Sunkara signed a contract magically tied to her body that forces her to serve the wealthy elite in France under the control of the Ringmaster Jean-Pierre. Every year, the Game of Oaths is held, where twelve individuals bound by similar contracts compete in deadly games. The sole winner earns their contract’s dissolution after one year, along with a large cash prize. After witnessing her sister Lavanya’s suspicious death during the first round of the Game of Oaths, Falan spends the next year plotting and searching for answers. When she is unexpectedly chosen by the panel to compete in the Game of Oaths herself, she sees it as the perfect opportunity to get her revenge. As the games grow more dangerous and the elites begin targeting her, Falan must decide who she can trust if she wants to survive.

I definitely had to dust off my French-to-English dictionary while reading, but S.C. Bandreddi balanced the language well enough that it never felt overwhelming. Between the map of Paris at the beginning, the descriptions of the late 1800s inspired architecture, and the French language woven throughout the story, the setting was easy to visualize. The world-building honestly became one of my favorite aspects of the book because it made everything feel immersive without slowing the story down. During the first couple of chapters, I understood Falan’s cold demeanor since she was willing to kill anyone to survive. However, I was frustrated when more people began helping her and learning her secrets yet she continued to keep everyone at arm’s length. I wanted to see her trust others a little more, especially considering how much was at stake. By the end though, I completely understood why she struggled to let people in once one of her supposed friends and allies revealed their true intentions. Overall, the intensity of the challenges and the violence kept me completely hooked. There were moments where I genuinely thought Falan wasn’t making it out alive, which made the story even more unpredictable. I also loved the divide between the elite “Lilys” and the overlooked “Boarders” along with how each participant used their own talents to survive. It gave the book a very Hunger Games style atmosphere while remaining unique. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys high stakes survival stories with intense competition. You won’t be disappointed!

The Game of Oaths releases on June 2nd, 2026.

Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Candlewick for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Walker books for the arc!

I loved this book so much, this was such a fun read with an amazing concept that was executed so well and had me gripped from the start. The plot is so intriguing and I absolutely loved the backdrop of the era and circus setting which is one of my favourites. The authors descriptions always made it so easy to visualise everything whilst also fully immersing you within this world and era. The world building was really well thought out and I loved the authors magic system. I really liked the rounds and thought each game was so intriguing. They always had such a unique feeling to them and I found myself thoroughly invested in each one, not knowing which way it would go. The stakes always felt high and had me wanting to keep reading to see what would happen next. There were twists I never saw coming which I loved as you never knew which way it was going to go or who to trust and I felt the author managed to put so much individuality within this book that, despite there being a lot of books out there with games/ trials, this still felt fresh and unique.

I really liked all of the characters and thought the whole group went together so well. Each had a distinct personality and so everyone brought something different to the group and it was really fun seeing them interact with one another. Falan was an amazing lead character, she was so strong and I loved how her goal was always clear and you could understand how clearly driven by revenge she was and root for her from the start. She had so many layers and I really felt I got to know her throughout the book. I loved the flashbacks as they added a lot of background and depth to the characters and storyline as a whole and I would love if there was another book featuring these characters. Despite Falan being the main character, the others were just as important and crucial to the plot and I loved how it switched focus to the different characters as it made them all feel equally relevant and just as strongly developed. There isn’t much romance which doesn’t bother me at all but the romance that is there is so cute and I loved how it was subtly evident throughout through even the smallest interactions.

The authors writing style is so captivating and flows so well throughout. There was never a dull moment and the pacing for me was perfect. I’d definitely be interested in reading more by this author and 100% would recommend this book!

[Melissa Kincaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was brilliant! Set in a richly imagined 1896 Belle Époque France, it centres on a deadly competition known as The Game of Oaths. This brutal tournament is staged for the entertainment of the upper classes, and those forced to enter are fighting for freedom from their contracts with the dark circus ringmaster and Enchanteur, Jean-Pierre.

Think The Hunger Games meets The Night Circus, and that is exactly what you get. The circus element is woven in beautifully, with trials tailored to each performer’s strengths, giving them both advantages and disadvantages throughout the deadly games.

The writing was excellent, the pacing strong, the trials genuinely frightening, and the sense of danger constant. I really loved the main characters, and even the side characters had purpose and depth, which made me care for all of their fates.

What to expect:
🎪 1800s Belle Époque Paris
🩸 YA fantasy
🗡️ Multiple POVs
🎪 Revenge
🩸 Illusion magic
🗡️ Deadly tournament
🎪 Circus setting
🩸 High stakes
🗡️ Historical France

Although marketed as young adult, this book leans into darker themes, particularly in the horror and violence of the trials. So check the content warnings before giving it to a younger reader! There are clear similarities to The Hunger Games in the structure of the deadly challenges, but it brings a fresh twist by using a deck of cards and the circus as the backbone. There is blood, danger, and gore, with countless moments that had me on edge, wondering who could truly be trusted.

Fans of deadly trials, subtle romantic undertones, revenge driven FMCs, and a beautifully dark reimagining of a glittering eighteenth century French circus setting will devour this whole.

A huge thank you to the absolute legends at Walker Books Australia for my gifted proof copy. I’m so grateful, I am very happily leaving this review ❤️✨


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[Jamie Steinberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falan Sunkara is a young trapeze artist in le Cirque des Ombres. Each year every performer in le Cirque is in contention to participate in a tournament where twelve of them will be pitted against one another with the sole winner surviving to have their contract at le Cirque terminated, allowing for them to start their life over again. Ringmaster Jean-Pierre and hotelier Blanchet unite to host the event and they play dirty. Falan has had a grudge against Jean-Pierre ever since her sister died in last year’s game, feeling as though the man rigged a ladder to break. In order to exact her revenge and set her fellow performers free from Jean-Pierre and his magical hold on them, Falan is determined to win this year’s Game of Oaths - no matter the cost. The Game of Oaths may be reminiscent of The Hunger Games, but this battle of wits is a war all on its own and one you will turn every page for, eager to find out who survives this fight. 

It is 1896 in Paris and Falan Sunkara, a seventeen-year-old, is a trapeze artist working in le Cirque des Ombres. Each year twelve of the circus performers are pitted against one another in The Game of Oaths, a tournament where only one will survive - a secret event serving entertainment for the wealthy elite. Enchanteur/Ringmaster Jean-Pierre uses his magical hold (“le Lien”) on the performers to keep them in line while they are bound to him by contracts. Falan is fed up with Jean-Pierre as she is certain he played a hand in the death of her sister, Lavanya, in last year’s Game of Oaths. This rage fuels a plan to take him down by any means necessary. Reluctantly, she must enlist the aid of fellow trapeze artist Ronan Allaire, last year’s game winner Lucien Trichet, fellow thief/casino dealer Bellamy (possibly the only person she has left to trust in this world) and the extremely reluctant, hidden Enchanteur Jules - the [illegitimate] son of fellow game host Blancett - who is on the board that determines the game played each round. Can Falan survive long enough to take down the megalomaniacs that host The Game of Oaths and make them pay for her sister’s death? You will eagerly turn the pages of this read to find out. 

Author S.C. Bandreddi completely captivates from page one. You are quickly invested in Falan’s mission, biting your nails and on the edge of your seat with every bloodthirsty round. You desperately want her alliances to work out for her so that she can bring down Jean-Pierre and remove his hold on those he has conned into taking part in le Cirque. Be prepared to realize when you come to the end of a chapter that you have been holding your breath the entire time. 

The Game of Oaths is an action-packed story that will keep readers deeply invested from start to finish. Your need to protect Falan at all costs will have you wishing your screams and gasps along the way can be heard by her so she knows she is not alone in this battle. Pick up this fascinating and magical read that will keep you whispering “Chance” to Falan and her helpers.

[Mo Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars TL;DR - Equal parts tense and dangerous while still feeling mystical and beautiful. This was an incredible debut with an immersive atmosphere, and this is definitely an author to keep your eye on.

My Thoughts:
This was such a cool story. I was genuinely surprised to learn this was a debut, and I’m already eager to see what the author writes next.

The author described it as The Hunger Games meets Caraval, and that is indeed a great comparison. The games were brutal and constantly pushed the players into k!ll-or-be-k!lled situations. At the same time, the magic and illusion elements added so much atmosphere, making the setting feel equally mystical and dangerous.

(I’d also throw in a slight Six of Crows vibe because of the group dynamics and the somewhat heist-like direction we get near the end.)

Overall, I do think the development could have used a little more depth for my personal taste, and the last quarter lost me a bit. There’s a point where all the characters come together and everything starts getting overexplained in a very “villain monologue explains the plot” kind of way. It felt clunky and pulled me out of the story. The ending overall also felt somewhat rushed, and I’m not sure it left me fully satisfied.

That said, this was still a really solid read for me. I gave it a 3.5 because every time I picked it up, I was completely sucked in. It was quick to get through, easy to immerse myself in, and the world felt unique, beautiful, and atmospheric. If this one has already caught your eye, I’d definitely recommend giving it a shot.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book

[Acantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Game of Oaths is a power, vengeance driven story that wears its inspiration proudly on its sleeves.

I struggled with the concept. 12 performers every year take part in the games where 11 will die. But during the selection process we learn there are only 40 odd people in the circus. So you are telling me that they lose a whole quarter of the show every year? And yet the newest member had been in the show for seven months, so less than half a year every year to find and train recruits? I know its showcasing how expendable these people are considered but the sheer time needed to find, recruit and train makes this hard to swallow.

what I did really lime was the way in which racism was explored within this book. This is not just a book about class but about colour, about "lower" boarders who are all coloured and the "Lilies" who are almost all white and treated better because of it. This inequality runs through the whole book but its never treated clumsily. It is a key part of the plot without overwhelming it and done very well.

It is, lets just be upfront here, very heavily inspired by the Hunger Games but unlike so many it does it in a good way and manages to mostly make these games feel like their own thing.

I loved the games within the Game, the list of a dwindling cast and the show style of each one although none could match the chill and creep factor of the first game which was the stand out to me.

I wish more had been done with Falan's talent, I still do not really get what she could do.

I liked the romances that developed here, and if we return to this world I would read more.

~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~

[Shylas_Sherwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

An alluring, underground circus with a dangerous magical competition, and it gives Caraval vibes?! Okay! I see you.

Jean-Pierre is the ringmaster to le Cirque des Ombres and Enchanteur who binds his circus performers by magical contracts. His performers also make up the players in the annual Game of Oaths, a bloodthirsty tournament put on for the entertainment of the wealthy.

Twelve will compete. One will survive. "Joue ta chance."

Falan is ruthless, which fits, given the fact she wants revenge on the ringmaster himself. She'll do what it takes to win, and avenge the death of her sister. Who died in the previous year's Game of Oaths.
Bellamy...I liked him! I liked the protective side of him that we got to see. Not to mentioned the fact that I liked the mutual work relationship he and Falan had before he became her dealer in the Game.

Speaking of! The games themselves were crazy! I didn't know what I'd been expecting but they were so good. They were dark and served their purpose well! The creativity with them wasn't something I expected. Jean-Pierre wants to creative a bloody spectacle and he does so beautifully.

I liked the ending! I do love seeing a plan come together and the steps taken to get there explained. There were times I truly believed what the plot had sold us.

[Lumie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Walker Books for the ARC.

Plot 5/5
Characters 5/5
Ending 5/5
Interest 5/5

Overall 5/5

-This was an phenomenal book. I was hooked from the start right up until the last page. Reading this made me think of so many fandoms I love to having everything grouped into one was such a great experience. From the magical world, to a circus environnement and then adding some deadly games, the ingredients were there and it came our perfect.

-I also really loved the characters. Some of them I loved to hate and some I wish I hated more but I couldn’t. They were deeply motives by their own ideologies and a lot of them didn’t share the same ones so that always created interesting dynamics. The relationships were so amazing and I loved feeling angsty on who I could trust because every turn, someone would change their story. The romance was also really great despite it being very minimal.

-Again, you won’t know who to trust from start to finish and my jaw was floored by the ending. There was always someone else I missed, something else I couldn’t figure out but in the end everything turned around for the better, not necessarily for the better of the characters.

[Jinx_Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given an advance reviewer copy of this book and am leaving my honest opinion voluntarily. Thank you to NetGalley, S.C. Bandreddi and the publisher for the opportunity.

While the deadly tournament trope is a popular one this book stands out among them. The Game of Oaths is set is an alternate historic Paris where magic thrives. The setting and magic system are fresh and unique.

Our main character is Fallan, whose goal is not just to win the deadly Game of Oaths but the get revenge for her sister and more. But though she’s got potential allies, trust is a fragile thing in her world especially when the stakes are so high. Are any of them worthy of hers?

I found the trials to be well designed and the visuals described to be very striking. The secondary characters are really interesting and my favorites were Bellamy and Lucien.

While there were bits of romance in the book, they were definitely not the focus. Which was a good thing since they felt a little underdeveloped. Since the target audience is YA that may have been by design.

This was a really interesting and engaging book. I hope you pick it up and give it a chance.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75* - thank you to NetGalley and Walker Books UK for approving me for this arc.

I really enjoyed The Game of Oaths. I found the pacing to be great, and although it felt like the games arrived quickly, the author spent enough time in each that you really got to experience them. I found the first two to be quite scary, I really liked the descriptions of the scenery and characters. There is a love triangle of sorts and then a separate romance. I do feel like these could have been fleshed out a bit more, as it read as if she was going to pick the one she didn’t (I was routing for that one). Also for the separate one, I wanted a kiss on that balcony. Falan as a main character was great and I especially enjoyed her interactions with Ronan. Even though there are multiple characters in this book, you do get to learn about each of them. I would have liked a bit more rounding off at the ending, or at least a bit more with certain characters, but the ending was good nonetheless. For a debut, it’s really great and I would definitely read from this author again.

[Vivien · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

I devoured this! This is a YA read similar to The Hunger Games, set in a magical underground Parisian circus in 1896 with circus performers bound by contracts in Alice in Borderland style games.

Seventeen year-old Falan, a ruthless trapeze artist, is one of the twelve in this year’s Game of Oaths, a deadly game for the wealthy’s entertainment. She not only needs to survive, she wants revenge for her sister who died in the games the previous year.

Told from multiple POV, all the characters were fleshed out with flashbacks showing the circumstances that forced them to join the circus woven throughout, making it easier to connect with them. Similar to the Hunger Games, they have sponsors who favour the ‘Lilies’ while boarders like Falan from overseas create racial divide among the competitors.

The world-building is lush and theatrical yet exposes the grungy, exploitive side of it as well. The only thing I wanted more of was Falan’s magic! She didn’t have a chance for it to manifest, we only got to find out what it is at the end without seeing it develop further.

[_booksagsm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading an ARC is always a fun experience because you get to see a book before its final release, and I love noticing the little details that might change later. *The Game of Oaths* immediately caught my attention with its gorgeous cover, beautiful typography, and the dark circus atmosphere. Set in 1896 Paris, the story follows Falan as she enters a deadly magical competition to uncover the truth behind her sister's death. The world felt rich and immersive, and the tension during the games kept me turning the pages.

What I enjoyed most was the mysterious circus setting and the high stakes throughout the story. The cast of characters was interesting, although I would have loved a little more depth from some of them, and I found the romance to be very subtle. At times the magic system was a little confusing, but the overall reading experience was engaging. If you enjoy dark YA fantasy with magical competitions, found family, revenge, and an atmospheric historical setting, I think this debut is worth adding to your TBR. I'm excited to see where the series goes next.

[Linda Westhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly I would like to thank Better Reading for this advance copy of Game of Oaths, it is everything I love in a book. I had forgotten how much I enjoy a good YA fantasy novel until I ventured into The Game of Oaths. As a big fan of The Hunger Games and anything Fantasy Circus, think The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern or The Circus Train by Amita Parikh, I was excited early on. The Game of Oaths is a page turner, the characters not necessarily endearing and likable but you get to know them all pretty well, and even though all very unique they just worked in this story. The story keeps you guessing, set on the streets of France in 1896, it swaps between past and present throughout. I was left longing with the love triangle that teased the whole way, I would have liked there to have been a kiss when the romance finally emerged. I highly recommend this book, you will constantly wonder just who you can trust. I feel there may be a sequel which I look forward to.

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of The Game of Oaths by S.C. Bandreddi immediately caught my attention: a magical circus in Belle Époque Paris, a deadly competition, revenge, secrets, and high stakes. The world-building is immersive, and I loved the contrast between the circus's glamour and the darkness lurking beneath the surface. The blend of magic, political tension, and danger kept me invested, and the mystery surrounding the circus made me eager to keep reading.
The frequent use of French words and phrases was my biggest challenge with the book. I found myself regularly stopping to look up translations, which disrupted the flow more than I would have liked. While I eventually adjusted and appreciated how it added authenticity to the setting, it did affect my overall enjoyment. Even so, this was an engaging and atmospheric fantasy with a unique premise, memorable setting, and plenty of intrigue. I'm looking forward to seeing what S.C. Bandreddi writes next.

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly I wanna thank the author, the publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for my review.
As soon as I read the synopsis of this book, I immediately said I need it!! I love the concept of a circus and having trials happening inside of a circus was kinda unique.
I struggled with the beggining of the book. I don't know why but wasn't grasping me but as soon as it was the day of the choosing for the games, I felt a shift the the energy of the book for me. She had to do a deal to survive the games and I knew things would go down from then on...
The stakes were high, I struggled with the pacing sometimes and with some characters and their motivations. But the games' days were what kept it fresh and alive for me.
I feel like the ending could have been better. But it was still a good read and had fun reading it.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Good... but I think we could have done even better

First off, I was completely captivated by this book. It was a fun read and it kept me glued to the pages from start to finish, wanting to know what comes next.

It is also a standalone that works well as such, while also effectively keeping the door open for a sequel, not something all authors can do.
The writing style was good, I liked the characters, and the plot develops in a way that actually makes sense.

Unfortunately, most debuts have the same problem: the idea is there, but the execution leaves something to be desired.
In this department, I was not convinced at all with some of the characters' motivations. Surviving and revenge as a motives can only take you so far, just saying.
The pacing was also a bit off, alternating heart-racing and dull moments.

Overall, The game of oaths was a great novel and I wouldn't be opposed to reading more from the author in the future.

[Ashlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book about a deadly game filled with revenge and magic, Falan, a trapeze artists, fights for her life while seeking to destroy the people who helped kill her sister. For fans of The Hunger Games, Caraval, and The Testing, The Game of Oaths brings elements from all of those books, but set in Paris in 1896. I loved the setting, the gruesome competition, and the unexpected betrayals. I honestly was not expecting that ending, but loved it all the same! I'm hoping that this turns into a series or at least has a spin-off because it was so good and hard to put down! I enjoyed the descriptive writing and learning about the past sprinkled throughout the book until the author gave the full story. It was a thrilling, action-packed book full of illusions and deadly games.

I received this book for free from the publisher, which does not affect my review.