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Reckonings
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
June 12, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/🌶️🌶️.5
“It was as if I’d walked out to sea and allowed the waves to swallow me whole. I was drowning in his presence.”
“I’d known for a long time before that moment that he was a monster. But I hadn’t known until that moment, among the dust and fighting, that the monster would come for me, too.”
This book was emotional, and dark. I had high expectations after reading Remnants (book 1) and absolutely loved it, and I was not disappointed. This was the perfect sequel and continuation of this story. Book one left off on a massive cliffhanger that had me devastated, the author did a fantastic job of picking up the story from that point.
Lissa, our FMC has so much growth throughout this book and I really loved that for her. Her struggling with her grief over losing Gideon, the person she is torn between loving and hating. The grief over discovering who Tanya really is, and his betrayal. Our girl really goes through it but remains so strong.
There were so many twists and turns throughout this book, I felt like my jaw was on the floor every chapter.
The ending was DIABOLICAL! I wanted to throw my kindle across the room. Another cliffhanger? Even worse than book 1? I am a mess. I need book three immediately. 😭🤯
I will always be such a huge fan of the magic system and world building in this series. The author does such an amazing job of bringing this world and characters to life.
It gave dark romantasy, love triangle, gang wars, blood play, feminine rage, longing, grief, and so many secrets.
“It was as if I’d walked out to sea and allowed the waves to swallow me whole. I was drowning in his presence.”
“I’d known for a long time before that moment that he was a monster. But I hadn’t known until that moment, among the dust and fighting, that the monster would come for me, too.”
This book was emotional, and dark. I had high expectations after reading Remnants (book 1) and absolutely loved it, and I was not disappointed. This was the perfect sequel and continuation of this story. Book one left off on a massive cliffhanger that had me devastated, the author did a fantastic job of picking up the story from that point.
Lissa, our FMC has so much growth throughout this book and I really loved that for her. Her struggling with her grief over losing Gideon, the person she is torn between loving and hating. The grief over discovering who Tanya really is, and his betrayal. Our girl really goes through it but remains so strong.
There were so many twists and turns throughout this book, I felt like my jaw was on the floor every chapter.
The ending was DIABOLICAL! I wanted to throw my kindle across the room. Another cliffhanger? Even worse than book 1? I am a mess. I need book three immediately. 😭🤯
I will always be such a huge fan of the magic system and world building in this series. The author does such an amazing job of bringing this world and characters to life.
It gave dark romantasy, love triangle, gang wars, blood play, feminine rage, longing, grief, and so many secrets.
June 20, 2026
You know that feeling when a book grabs you by the shoulders, shakes you violently, and then has the audacity to ask if you're having fun?
That was this book.
I think this is one of the most difficult reviews I've ever written because so much of what makes this story incredible lives inside the reveals, the character choices, and the emotional landmines scattered throughout the plot. Every time I thought I knew where things were headed, the story laughed in my face and pulled the rug out from under me.
Lissa continues to be one of the most complicated characters I have read in a long time. She frustrated me. She made me want to reach through the pages and shake her. There were moments where her inability to communicate had me muttering at the book like a concerned parent watching a child make terrible life choices.
And yet... I understood her.
The deeper this story goes, the more you see the scars left behind by manipulation, control, loss, and survival. When someone spends so much of their life being used, shaped by other people's expectations, or taught that their feelings don't matter, speaking up is not always easy. Her choices are messy. Sometimes painfully so. But they felt real.
There is also an aspect of her emotional journey that absolutely broke my heart. The way the story explores attachment, loyalty, and the complicated bonds that can form in unhealthy situations felt incredibly authentic. It hurt because it felt believable. There were moments where I completely understood why she struggled to let go, even when every warning sign was flashing in bright red lights.
Then there is Tayna.
Listen.
I have loved Tayna since book one and nothing changed here. If anything, this book made me love him more.
While the city around them becomes increasingly unstable and dangerous, while people begin disappearing and secrets start surfacing from every corner, Tayna remains one of the few constants in Lissa's life. His loyalty never feels performative. His care never feels conditional. Time and time again he chooses her. Not because it benefits him. Not because it's easy.
Simply because she matters to him.
The world could be collapsing around him and this man would still be looking for Lissa.
I respect that level of dedication while simultaneously questioning his sanity.
As the story dives deeper into hidden factions, dangerous power structures, and mysteries lurking beneath the surface, the tension becomes almost unbearable. There is an atmosphere hanging over the entire book that constantly whispers that something is wrong. Every answer uncovers three more questions. Every revelation changes how you view everything that came before it.
And then there is the darkness.
Not the obvious kind. Not monsters hiding in shadows.
The darkness inside people.
The story does an incredible job exploring what happens when someone stands at the edge of becoming something different. Something more powerful. Something potentially dangerous. Watching Lissa wrestle with who she is, who she wants to be, and who others expect her to become created some of the strongest character work in the entire series.
The plot twists deserve their own therapy bill.
I am not exaggerating when I say I experienced emotional whiplash. Every time I settled into a theory, another twist appeared out of nowhere and shattered it. Some reveals genuinely caught me off guard, which is becoming increasingly rare for me as a reader.
This series refuses to take the easy route. It challenges your assumptions, plays with your emotions, and constantly keeps you guessing. The stakes feel real because the story is willing to hurt both its characters and its readers.
By the end, I sat there staring into space, trying to process everything that had happened while questioning every decision that led me to becoming emotionally attached to fictional people.
If you love morally complex characters, layered emotional conflicts, shocking twists, and stories that force you to question where the line between light and darkness really exists, you need to pick up this series.
Just don't expect to leave with your sanity intact.
I certainly didn't.
That was this book.
I think this is one of the most difficult reviews I've ever written because so much of what makes this story incredible lives inside the reveals, the character choices, and the emotional landmines scattered throughout the plot. Every time I thought I knew where things were headed, the story laughed in my face and pulled the rug out from under me.
Lissa continues to be one of the most complicated characters I have read in a long time. She frustrated me. She made me want to reach through the pages and shake her. There were moments where her inability to communicate had me muttering at the book like a concerned parent watching a child make terrible life choices.
And yet... I understood her.
The deeper this story goes, the more you see the scars left behind by manipulation, control, loss, and survival. When someone spends so much of their life being used, shaped by other people's expectations, or taught that their feelings don't matter, speaking up is not always easy. Her choices are messy. Sometimes painfully so. But they felt real.
There is also an aspect of her emotional journey that absolutely broke my heart. The way the story explores attachment, loyalty, and the complicated bonds that can form in unhealthy situations felt incredibly authentic. It hurt because it felt believable. There were moments where I completely understood why she struggled to let go, even when every warning sign was flashing in bright red lights.
Then there is Tayna.
Listen.
I have loved Tayna since book one and nothing changed here. If anything, this book made me love him more.
While the city around them becomes increasingly unstable and dangerous, while people begin disappearing and secrets start surfacing from every corner, Tayna remains one of the few constants in Lissa's life. His loyalty never feels performative. His care never feels conditional. Time and time again he chooses her. Not because it benefits him. Not because it's easy.
Simply because she matters to him.
The world could be collapsing around him and this man would still be looking for Lissa.
I respect that level of dedication while simultaneously questioning his sanity.
As the story dives deeper into hidden factions, dangerous power structures, and mysteries lurking beneath the surface, the tension becomes almost unbearable. There is an atmosphere hanging over the entire book that constantly whispers that something is wrong. Every answer uncovers three more questions. Every revelation changes how you view everything that came before it.
And then there is the darkness.
Not the obvious kind. Not monsters hiding in shadows.
The darkness inside people.
The story does an incredible job exploring what happens when someone stands at the edge of becoming something different. Something more powerful. Something potentially dangerous. Watching Lissa wrestle with who she is, who she wants to be, and who others expect her to become created some of the strongest character work in the entire series.
The plot twists deserve their own therapy bill.
I am not exaggerating when I say I experienced emotional whiplash. Every time I settled into a theory, another twist appeared out of nowhere and shattered it. Some reveals genuinely caught me off guard, which is becoming increasingly rare for me as a reader.
This series refuses to take the easy route. It challenges your assumptions, plays with your emotions, and constantly keeps you guessing. The stakes feel real because the story is willing to hurt both its characters and its readers.
By the end, I sat there staring into space, trying to process everything that had happened while questioning every decision that led me to becoming emotionally attached to fictional people.
If you love morally complex characters, layered emotional conflicts, shocking twists, and stories that force you to question where the line between light and darkness really exists, you need to pick up this series.
Just don't expect to leave with your sanity intact.
I certainly didn't.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First, I need to send a special thank you to Jess Stevens for having me as an arc reader for Reckonings. I absolutely adored the first book, Remnants, so when book two came along, I was excited to dive back into one of my favorite worlds. As always, this review is my honest, spoiler free review!
My Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts:
If anyone has seen my review for Remnants, then you would know that this world of the Silver Games series stole my heart from the very beginning. I had such high hopes for book two and let me just tell you that I was not disappointed!
Picking up where we left off from book one, I immediately found myself pulled right back into this incredible world where being a Silver came with a lot of challenges. Being able to see Lissa, Tayna and the crew again felt like coming home. Not only was I still reeling from the loss we experienced in book one, I also knew that we had to continue on as danger still lurked no matter where you looked.
The characters we got to meet in book two were definitely interesting and there is always a saying that goes something like “if it seems too good to be true, it usually isn’t real.” That’s exactly how I felt when our main characters made it to The Veiled. Even with more questions being raised, I loved how Lissa was trying everything she could to play the game to find out the secrets that were hidden there. However, I wasn’t expecting the little plot twists that happened along the way. There was some heartbreaking moments in this book that just fueled Lissa’s fire even more and I can’t wait to see how she takes things head on in the next book. That cliffhanger at the end also had me gasping and I am eagerly waiting the next installment to this series!
My Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts:
If anyone has seen my review for Remnants, then you would know that this world of the Silver Games series stole my heart from the very beginning. I had such high hopes for book two and let me just tell you that I was not disappointed!
Picking up where we left off from book one, I immediately found myself pulled right back into this incredible world where being a Silver came with a lot of challenges. Being able to see Lissa, Tayna and the crew again felt like coming home. Not only was I still reeling from the loss we experienced in book one, I also knew that we had to continue on as danger still lurked no matter where you looked.
The characters we got to meet in book two were definitely interesting and there is always a saying that goes something like “if it seems too good to be true, it usually isn’t real.” That’s exactly how I felt when our main characters made it to The Veiled. Even with more questions being raised, I loved how Lissa was trying everything she could to play the game to find out the secrets that were hidden there. However, I wasn’t expecting the little plot twists that happened along the way. There was some heartbreaking moments in this book that just fueled Lissa’s fire even more and I can’t wait to see how she takes things head on in the next book. That cliffhanger at the end also had me gasping and I am eagerly waiting the next installment to this series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Play the games of gangs.
This dystopian romance does not disappoint. There is tension galore, intense scenes, disloyalty, revenge, lawlessness and chaos and a world where only the strong survive.
With the fall of the government, gangs moved in to fill the vacuum. There are powerful rival gangs with leaders who are tyrants, predators, and who are possessive, volatile and unpredictable. Many are pawns in the gang's game of chess.
Lissa, who is a Silver, is a powerful FMC with unique abilities. She is a Queen of Hearts in the Cards gang where she is essentially a prisoner. She killed to find freedom only to return to a new cage. She is reckless and dangerous. She battles to remain a part of the light versus plunging into darkness. One person will protect her from the darkness, and one is the darkness. Will she turn into a monster like almost everyone else. Will she surrender her soul in exchange for answers to the many secrets. She is The Reckoning and she will choose her fate. Will she find and reach her destiny?
The characters are gritty, relentless and tough. The main characters and the side characters possess hidden pasts and truths. There are lies, fear, rebellion, revenge, deception, deep betrayals, manipulation, mysteries, rage, vast grief, feral danger and darkness.
The ending is "jaw on the floor." Chaos is coming.
Favorite Quotes
"I hate that you make me hate you."
"You're whatever I want you to be, Little Queen."
"Even if he claimed my body, he would never have my heart."
"I'd endured too much loss to open myself up to anyone, especially him."
"The thing people saw first when they looked at me. The weapon."
"We'd wounded each other. Two broken things in the land of lost souls."
This dystopian romance does not disappoint. There is tension galore, intense scenes, disloyalty, revenge, lawlessness and chaos and a world where only the strong survive.
With the fall of the government, gangs moved in to fill the vacuum. There are powerful rival gangs with leaders who are tyrants, predators, and who are possessive, volatile and unpredictable. Many are pawns in the gang's game of chess.
Lissa, who is a Silver, is a powerful FMC with unique abilities. She is a Queen of Hearts in the Cards gang where she is essentially a prisoner. She killed to find freedom only to return to a new cage. She is reckless and dangerous. She battles to remain a part of the light versus plunging into darkness. One person will protect her from the darkness, and one is the darkness. Will she turn into a monster like almost everyone else. Will she surrender her soul in exchange for answers to the many secrets. She is The Reckoning and she will choose her fate. Will she find and reach her destiny?
The characters are gritty, relentless and tough. The main characters and the side characters possess hidden pasts and truths. There are lies, fear, rebellion, revenge, deception, deep betrayals, manipulation, mysteries, rage, vast grief, feral danger and darkness.
The ending is "jaw on the floor." Chaos is coming.
Favorite Quotes
"I hate that you make me hate you."
"You're whatever I want you to be, Little Queen."
"Even if he claimed my body, he would never have my heart."
"I'd endured too much loss to open myself up to anyone, especially him."
"The thing people saw first when they looked at me. The weapon."
"We'd wounded each other. Two broken things in the land of lost souls."
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5/5 ⭐️
I enjoyed the worldbuilding in Remnants, so I was excited to jump into Reckonings, and I appreciated that the story picked up right where the first book left off.
Jess Stevens has created a world that feels immersive, dangerous, and layered, which kept me invested (even when I struggled with some of the characters)
My biggest challenge was connecting with the FMC. There were several moments where I found myself questioning her decisions and thinking, “Girl, what are you doing?”
I’ll admit, her choices frustrated me, and there were definitely scenes that had me rolling my eyes or wanting to shake a character or two.
That said, the emotional intensity of the story kept me engaged. I found myself invested in the relationships and dynamics between some of the side characters. In several ways, they ended up being some of the most compelling parts of the story for me.
The romance and spice were done well overall, although there were a few moments that completely threw me off. The chemistry was there at times, but it didn’t always land for me the way I had hoped.
While I didn’t love every character decision and didn’t always connect with the FMC, I still found myself wanting to know what would happen next. Between the strong worldbuilding, emotional highs and lows, engaging side characters, and overall story progression, Reckonings was a solid read for me.
If you enjoyed Remnants and are invested in this world, I’d recommend giving this one a read.
*I received an ARC copy of Reckonings in exchange for an honest review*
I enjoyed the worldbuilding in Remnants, so I was excited to jump into Reckonings, and I appreciated that the story picked up right where the first book left off.
Jess Stevens has created a world that feels immersive, dangerous, and layered, which kept me invested (even when I struggled with some of the characters)
My biggest challenge was connecting with the FMC. There were several moments where I found myself questioning her decisions and thinking, “Girl, what are you doing?”
I’ll admit, her choices frustrated me, and there were definitely scenes that had me rolling my eyes or wanting to shake a character or two.
That said, the emotional intensity of the story kept me engaged. I found myself invested in the relationships and dynamics between some of the side characters. In several ways, they ended up being some of the most compelling parts of the story for me.
The romance and spice were done well overall, although there were a few moments that completely threw me off. The chemistry was there at times, but it didn’t always land for me the way I had hoped.
While I didn’t love every character decision and didn’t always connect with the FMC, I still found myself wanting to know what would happen next. Between the strong worldbuilding, emotional highs and lows, engaging side characters, and overall story progression, Reckonings was a solid read for me.
If you enjoyed Remnants and are invested in this world, I’d recommend giving this one a read.
*I received an ARC copy of Reckonings in exchange for an honest review*
June 16, 2026
Huge thank you to the author for an ARC of this book!!
I absolutely LOVED the second book in the Silver Games series. Remnants left us on such a brutal cliffhanger, and Reckonings wastes no time pulling you right back into the chaos, tension, and emotional weight of this dystopian world.
This book felt even heavier than the first, in the best way. The stakes are higher, the danger feels sharper, and the characters are forced to confront not only the world around them, but the pieces of themselves that are still fractured from everything they’ve survived. I loved getting to see the character development deepen here. The relationships, loyalties, trauma, and inner conflicts all felt more layered, and I was so invested in where each storyline was going.
Jess Stevens does such a great job building a dystopian world that feels intense and unforgiving while still keeping the heart of the story rooted in the characters. There were moments that had me stressed, emotional, and completely glued to the page. I especially loved how this sequel expanded the series instead of just feeling like a bridge book. It gave us answers, raised new questions, and made me even more attached to this world and these characters.
If you enjoyed Remnants, you absolutely need to pick up Reckonings. It is darker, heavier, more emotional, and such a strong continuation of the series. I am fully locked in for whatever comes next.
I absolutely LOVED the second book in the Silver Games series. Remnants left us on such a brutal cliffhanger, and Reckonings wastes no time pulling you right back into the chaos, tension, and emotional weight of this dystopian world.
This book felt even heavier than the first, in the best way. The stakes are higher, the danger feels sharper, and the characters are forced to confront not only the world around them, but the pieces of themselves that are still fractured from everything they’ve survived. I loved getting to see the character development deepen here. The relationships, loyalties, trauma, and inner conflicts all felt more layered, and I was so invested in where each storyline was going.
Jess Stevens does such a great job building a dystopian world that feels intense and unforgiving while still keeping the heart of the story rooted in the characters. There were moments that had me stressed, emotional, and completely glued to the page. I especially loved how this sequel expanded the series instead of just feeling like a bridge book. It gave us answers, raised new questions, and made me even more attached to this world and these characters.
If you enjoyed Remnants, you absolutely need to pick up Reckonings. It is darker, heavier, more emotional, and such a strong continuation of the series. I am fully locked in for whatever comes next.
June 28, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
Have you ever read a book and been so overwhelmed by things happening to the main character that you wish you could reach in and hug them but also wanted to be them at the same time? Because I am SO HERE for Lissa Metarro (FMC) that I want to both follow her to the ends of the Earth and have her scorch it but also become her and be just as badass.
The second in this series did not disappoint! We continue to watch Lissa deal with her entire world come crashing down and handle it like the grown ass woman we love to see. She is constantly searching for answers in a world that seems to know more about her than she does about it, and the twists we get while watching her discover more about her abilities and roots more than keep us entertained. The biggest shock of all is figuring out how much of the stories we hear about are interconnected, and honestly had me squealing! I'm afraid if I write any more about the men or side characters in this book I'll be spoiling so I'll just leave it to y'all to figure out these family dynamics ;)
Can't wait for the third one but thank you so much to Jess Stevens for allowing me the privilege of being an ARC reader for this book!
Have you ever read a book and been so overwhelmed by things happening to the main character that you wish you could reach in and hug them but also wanted to be them at the same time? Because I am SO HERE for Lissa Metarro (FMC) that I want to both follow her to the ends of the Earth and have her scorch it but also become her and be just as badass.
The second in this series did not disappoint! We continue to watch Lissa deal with her entire world come crashing down and handle it like the grown ass woman we love to see. She is constantly searching for answers in a world that seems to know more about her than she does about it, and the twists we get while watching her discover more about her abilities and roots more than keep us entertained. The biggest shock of all is figuring out how much of the stories we hear about are interconnected, and honestly had me squealing! I'm afraid if I write any more about the men or side characters in this book I'll be spoiling so I'll just leave it to y'all to figure out these family dynamics ;)
Can't wait for the third one but thank you so much to Jess Stevens for allowing me the privilege of being an ARC reader for this book!
June 15, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 ARC Review
This book took me on a roller coaster of emotions. I hated Lissa, then I understood Lissa, then I hated her again for a while there, then my jaw DROPPED TO THE FUCKING FLOOR (unrelated to Lissa - please pardon my language) and then I tolerated and understood her again. But her actions and her way of thinking sometimes just really gets on my nerves.
But Tayna? DREAMBOAT. No notes. Perfect specimen. Definitely WAY too good for Lissa. Like it pisses me off that she gets to have this hunk and I don’t. And I definitely unlocked a new kink in this one (also unrelated to Tayna but also kind of not… just read it, you’ll understand).
The twists (some of which I guessed but DEFINITELY NOT all of them) and tension in this book were executed so well that I couldn’t stop turning the pages. I knew I loved book 1, but this whole series is a banger for me. Pun intended.
If you love morally complicated characters, emotional chaos, shocking reveals, and dark romance that will have you kicking and screaming for more, Reckonings is a must-read.
Not a full 5⭐️ due to grammatical errors that I just couldn’t get past.
This book took me on a roller coaster of emotions. I hated Lissa, then I understood Lissa, then I hated her again for a while there, then my jaw DROPPED TO THE FUCKING FLOOR (unrelated to Lissa - please pardon my language) and then I tolerated and understood her again. But her actions and her way of thinking sometimes just really gets on my nerves.
But Tayna? DREAMBOAT. No notes. Perfect specimen. Definitely WAY too good for Lissa. Like it pisses me off that she gets to have this hunk and I don’t. And I definitely unlocked a new kink in this one (also unrelated to Tayna but also kind of not… just read it, you’ll understand).
The twists (some of which I guessed but DEFINITELY NOT all of them) and tension in this book were executed so well that I couldn’t stop turning the pages. I knew I loved book 1, but this whole series is a banger for me. Pun intended.
If you love morally complicated characters, emotional chaos, shocking reveals, and dark romance that will have you kicking and screaming for more, Reckonings is a must-read.
Not a full 5⭐️ due to grammatical errors that I just couldn’t get past.
June 16, 2026
🚨 I AM COMPLETELY WRECKED 🚨
I just finished reading the ARC for RECKONINGS by Jess Stevens and oh my gosh... my jaw is on the floor. 🤯 I knew from the very first page that I was going to love every single part of this book, but the twists that Jess put in this one?! NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING AT ALL!
Obviously, I was hooked from the absolute beginning, but the back-and-forth that Lissa had to go through just broke me. She wants her heart to be in one place and only that place, but she also knows that her heart is elsewhere. And when The Phantom comes into the story?! She is so confused and doesn’t understand why she has the feelings that she does. 👀❤️🔥
Honestly, there is absolutely NOTHING I can say about the plot without spoiling it, so you’re just going to have to trust me on this one. My heart is truly with the Silver Games! I have never been this addicted and so ready for the next book to come out in my entire life! My heart has been shattered and put back together more times than I can count with these books. 😭👏
I just finished reading the ARC for RECKONINGS by Jess Stevens and oh my gosh... my jaw is on the floor. 🤯 I knew from the very first page that I was going to love every single part of this book, but the twists that Jess put in this one?! NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING AT ALL!
Obviously, I was hooked from the absolute beginning, but the back-and-forth that Lissa had to go through just broke me. She wants her heart to be in one place and only that place, but she also knows that her heart is elsewhere. And when The Phantom comes into the story?! She is so confused and doesn’t understand why she has the feelings that she does. 👀❤️🔥
Honestly, there is absolutely NOTHING I can say about the plot without spoiling it, so you’re just going to have to trust me on this one. My heart is truly with the Silver Games! I have never been this addicted and so ready for the next book to come out in my entire life! My heart has been shattered and put back together more times than I can count with these books. 😭👏
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for this ARC!
The ending of Remnants left me reeling. After the revelations and the losses suffered, Lissa is forever changed: “I was becoming something new. There was a call in my bones I couldn’t ignore.” In Reckonings, Lissa becomes a much more confident (and dangerous) player. And I LOVE her character growth.
The cast of characters grows even more vast in this book. Personalities/motivations are carefully constructed and frustratingly mysterious. All the players really add depth to the story & the world. The world building also becomes more complex as we are introduced to more gangs and where/how they function. Make no mistake, this is a DARK fantasy romance--and some characters are truly morally black.
Jess Stevens, you are DIABOLICAL for that epilogue. I will be sending you my therapy bills as I wait for book 3.
K--thanks.
“A part of me craved the darkness”
The ending of Remnants left me reeling. After the revelations and the losses suffered, Lissa is forever changed: “I was becoming something new. There was a call in my bones I couldn’t ignore.” In Reckonings, Lissa becomes a much more confident (and dangerous) player. And I LOVE her character growth.
The cast of characters grows even more vast in this book. Personalities/motivations are carefully constructed and frustratingly mysterious. All the players really add depth to the story & the world. The world building also becomes more complex as we are introduced to more gangs and where/how they function. Make no mistake, this is a DARK fantasy romance--and some characters are truly morally black.
Jess Stevens, you are DIABOLICAL for that epilogue. I will be sending you my therapy bills as I wait for book 3.
K--thanks.
“A part of me craved the darkness”
June 17, 2026
4.5 stars
Ok this was a little darker than book one! I loved the start to this story in Remnants and I am still invested. Lissa is dealing with so many people that are hiding things from her. She just can't get straight answers without being used for her blood. I feel like she can't make good decisions when she doesn't know who is a true ally. As much as I like Tayna, he deserved to be in the dog house a bit and let her decide to let him in again. She thought he was dead and that it was her fault FFS! And even more, he still has secrets surrounding his family that come out later.
Am I delusional in hoping characters that died are coming back... maybe... will I continue to hold out hope... Yes, yes I will. Because is this love triangle/square situation intriguing me... Yes, yes it is lol
This is a dystopian story which always feel dark to me because of the survival aspect and what the characters have to do to survive.
Thank you Jess for letting me be a part of the team!
Ok this was a little darker than book one! I loved the start to this story in Remnants and I am still invested. Lissa is dealing with so many people that are hiding things from her. She just can't get straight answers without being used for her blood. I feel like she can't make good decisions when she doesn't know who is a true ally. As much as I like Tayna, he deserved to be in the dog house a bit and let her decide to let him in again. She thought he was dead and that it was her fault FFS! And even more, he still has secrets surrounding his family that come out later.
Am I delusional in hoping characters that died are coming back... maybe... will I continue to hold out hope... Yes, yes I will. Because is this love triangle/square situation intriguing me... Yes, yes it is lol
This is a dystopian story which always feel dark to me because of the survival aspect and what the characters have to do to survive.
Thank you Jess for letting me be a part of the team!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review: Reckonings by Jess Stevens
(Book 2 in the Silver Games series)
Comes out June 16th!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I can never tell if I want to punch or love Gideon... And the more i read, the more confused i become. 😂
I was really happy to see Lissa really coming into her own and getting into 'playing the game'. I truly feel for her in her moments of struggling with self doubt and her abilities.
This book really made me fall for Tayna more, those spicy scenes! 🤭
The plot twists in this book are insane and were things you'd never see coming. I kept finding myself going, "Wait, what?!" The ending made me absolutely speechless. Im shocked... I need the next one now, please. 😅
Thank you for letting me have the opportunity to read this book! I loved both Remnants and Reckonings so much, and i can't wait for the next one. 🩶
(Book 2 in the Silver Games series)
Comes out June 16th!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I can never tell if I want to punch or love Gideon... And the more i read, the more confused i become. 😂
I was really happy to see Lissa really coming into her own and getting into 'playing the game'. I truly feel for her in her moments of struggling with self doubt and her abilities.
This book really made me fall for Tayna more, those spicy scenes! 🤭
The plot twists in this book are insane and were things you'd never see coming. I kept finding myself going, "Wait, what?!" The ending made me absolutely speechless. Im shocked... I need the next one now, please. 😅
Thank you for letting me have the opportunity to read this book! I loved both Remnants and Reckonings so much, and i can't wait for the next one. 🩶
Review of advance copy received from Author
June 14, 2026Crashing back into the mayhem with ruthless precision, book two of The silver games series is addictive in its pacing and simmering with high-intensity spice.
It slowly dismantles every mask, exposing its characters layer by layer. At its center is Lissa, a rare Silver with an unparalleled power, forced to confront revelation after devastating revelation that fractures her world. Every answer births new questions, and every truth comes with a cost, propelling an action-fueled plot that never loosens its grip.
Drenched in secrets, unhinged chemistry, and defiance, this tale prowls through revenge and manipulation, where every betrayal is a blade in the dark and trust is the most dangerous gamble of all when every truth comes at a devastating price..
With the bombshell of a cliffhanger, as the Cloaked figures emerge from the shadows, every alliance feels precariously balanced on a knife's edge.
It slowly dismantles every mask, exposing its characters layer by layer. At its center is Lissa, a rare Silver with an unparalleled power, forced to confront revelation after devastating revelation that fractures her world. Every answer births new questions, and every truth comes with a cost, propelling an action-fueled plot that never loosens its grip.
Drenched in secrets, unhinged chemistry, and defiance, this tale prowls through revenge and manipulation, where every betrayal is a blade in the dark and trust is the most dangerous gamble of all when every truth comes at a devastating price..
With the bombshell of a cliffhanger, as the Cloaked figures emerge from the shadows, every alliance feels precariously balanced on a knife's edge.
June 24, 2026
𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 5/5⭐️
𝓢𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮 3/5🌶️
Reckonings by Jess Stevens
Silver Games #2
Yes yes yes!! Everything I want from a sequel! It picks right up where book one ended. This one was darker and more emotional than book one which I really loved.
Thank you to the author for the eARC of this book!
I loved the fact that I could not predict where this one was going. Constantly on my toes! Between Lissa’s emotional journey and some of the decisions she makes to Gideon. Damn Gideon. There is so much to unpack there. Then we have Tayna. Oh Tayna.
I don’t want to give too much away. The magic and the world in this continues to be one of my favorites as it just feels so unique and fresh. I felt like we get a little more world building and more explanation with the magic.
Definitely recommend to those who enjoy dark dystopian romances with unique magic systems!
𝓢𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮 3/5🌶️
Reckonings by Jess Stevens
Silver Games #2
Yes yes yes!! Everything I want from a sequel! It picks right up where book one ended. This one was darker and more emotional than book one which I really loved.
Thank you to the author for the eARC of this book!
I loved the fact that I could not predict where this one was going. Constantly on my toes! Between Lissa’s emotional journey and some of the decisions she makes to Gideon. Damn Gideon. There is so much to unpack there. Then we have Tayna. Oh Tayna.
I don’t want to give too much away. The magic and the world in this continues to be one of my favorites as it just feels so unique and fresh. I felt like we get a little more world building and more explanation with the magic.
Definitely recommend to those who enjoy dark dystopian romances with unique magic systems!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Reckonings expanded so much on the universe already created in Remnants. I felt like there was a lot of character growth from the first novel. There is a lot of push and pull between Lissa and Tayna that I was not really expecting. To be honest I'm still not sure who I think Lissa should be with if anyone. The new characters introduced have a brought a lot to the table. But really the main thing is it all made me really want book 3, the twists that happen in the last 15ish percent of the, the epilogue that I kind had the oddest feeling about and never expected to actually be right. This was an emotional roller-coaster that dumped right off a cliff in the end.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh Jess.... what have you done to me! I absolutely loved the love/h8 relationship between Lissa and Gideon in Remnants.... And what I thought happened at the end of book one broke my heart a little bit.... I didn't know what to think about what was coming next with the twist you put at the end.... and HERE YOU GO AGAIN!
My mind is absolutely blown in the best kind of way. Lissa is still TOP TIER FMC. She is such a bad@ss and I freaking love her. She's trying to be fierce and gentle and "human" and her and Tayna go through the ringer throughout this book. But wow, I NEED book 3 already. And this hasn't even released yet! What will Lissa go through next? I loved this!
My mind is absolutely blown in the best kind of way. Lissa is still TOP TIER FMC. She is such a bad@ss and I freaking love her. She's trying to be fierce and gentle and "human" and her and Tayna go through the ringer throughout this book. But wow, I NEED book 3 already. And this hasn't even released yet! What will Lissa go through next? I loved this!
June 17, 2026
This series just keeps surprising me. I thought waiting for book 2 was killing me but waiting for book 3 will be pure torture.
Jess has created an amazing world and story. The plot just keeps twisting and the people you assume you know, well, you know nothing!!
Players are changing and the scene will leave you gripping at strands to hold on. Lissa has no idea what her life has in store and with new players on the board this queen better figure things out fast.
Tayna and Lissa just want peace but Lissa is starting to question what she really wants and where she stands. She Loves Tayna but her allegiance is seeming to shift more to herself than The Whigs… I can’t wait to see what happens.
Jess has created an amazing world and story. The plot just keeps twisting and the people you assume you know, well, you know nothing!!
Players are changing and the scene will leave you gripping at strands to hold on. Lissa has no idea what her life has in store and with new players on the board this queen better figure things out fast.
Tayna and Lissa just want peace but Lissa is starting to question what she really wants and where she stands. She Loves Tayna but her allegiance is seeming to shift more to herself than The Whigs… I can’t wait to see what happens.
Review of advance copy received from Author
JESS DELIVERS in book 2. The story expands the world in meaningful ways while keeping the emotional tension front and center. Yes, you’ll keep missing Kenji (😭😭) and Gideon (😭😭😭) but you’ll learn more about Lissa, Tayna, and other gangs (and new characters 👀) plus a deeper dive on the genesis of Silvers. The pacing kept me turning pages late into the night, and the ending left me immediately wanting book 3 (that cliff-hanger though ☠️☠️☠️). If you enjoy dark fantasy romance with high stakes, complex characters, and emotional depth, this series is worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This series owns me at this point. The perfect dystopian dark romance, packed with nonstop twists that kept me glued to the pages. Jess Stevens somehow manages to top every shocking reveal with an even bigger one, all the way to the end. Watching Lissa grow into such a powerful force has been amazing, but her evolution only makes the mystery surrounding her even more compelling. I am absolutely obsessed with this story and these characters. And now I'm once again left counting down the days until the next book because THAT ENDING has me desperate to know what happens next!
June 16, 2026
Book 2 of the series starts right where we left off and immediately you’re transported to Lissa’s dystopian world.
Lissa is no push over and her ability to try and figure out what’s happening and relying on her instincts to know that something isn’t right wherever she goes.
I’m not sure how the series will end so that makes it more interesting to see what Jess has in store for us readers.
Thank you Jess for giving me the opportunity to read this as an ARC. I’m glad I got to continue on with the Silver Games Series.
Lissa is no push over and her ability to try and figure out what’s happening and relying on her instincts to know that something isn’t right wherever she goes.
I’m not sure how the series will end so that makes it more interesting to see what Jess has in store for us readers.
Thank you Jess for giving me the opportunity to read this as an ARC. I’m glad I got to continue on with the Silver Games Series.
June 17, 2026
Amazing! Jess Stevens delivers again with this book. One thing I love is that she just picks right up where the first book left off and weaves a slight recap into the main storyline. I’m not a fan of when the first one to two chapters is a recap of the previous book. This was masterfully done. The new protagonist is a fantastic plot twist. The ongoing tension between Lissa and Tayna can be cut with a fricking knife! . This is a must add to your TBR and an immediate purchase in your Amazon cart.
July 2, 2026
I love this series so much.
If you love:
dystopia
love triangles
gang wars
masked men
this is a must read for you!!
Lissa is not allowing anyone to control her anymore!! She is fighting for her self and other silver bloods.
The constant action and secrets revealed keep you on the edge of your seat and turning just one more page (until is very late).
Jess Stevens has a way with cliffhangers!! I gasped out loud and yelled at the ending! I have questions and they NEED answers!!!
If you love:
dystopia
love triangles
gang wars
masked men
this is a must read for you!!
Lissa is not allowing anyone to control her anymore!! She is fighting for her self and other silver bloods.
The constant action and secrets revealed keep you on the edge of your seat and turning just one more page (until is very late).
Jess Stevens has a way with cliffhangers!! I gasped out loud and yelled at the ending! I have questions and they NEED answers!!!
July 8, 2026
This book was written so well. Do NOT read it in public if you tend to feel emotions while reading. This book made me cry so many times it’s not even funny. The plot was paced so well, and I was hooked the entire time. I really loved the character development and the way different moral dilemmas were written in. These characters (most of) were so lovable. I feel like this book served such a good second book purpose, it had an interesting plot but also set up book three super well. This book put me through so many emotions, and there were multiple times where I audibly gasped.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I stared at the wall. Holy ending.
This plot got twisty. Who’s a friend, who’s a foe. Sincerely IDK. Ok but really Lissa and Tayna are hit with multiple road blocks and having to hunt down secrets of Lissas mom, the past and how to keep the world from imploding in on itself. Instead of the Cards we get to see SLIGHTLY into the Veiled for this one.
The character twist 🫣 didn’t see that coming but man oh man.. let the games begin
This plot got twisty. Who’s a friend, who’s a foe. Sincerely IDK. Ok but really Lissa and Tayna are hit with multiple road blocks and having to hunt down secrets of Lissas mom, the past and how to keep the world from imploding in on itself. Instead of the Cards we get to see SLIGHTLY into the Veiled for this one.
The character twist 🫣 didn’t see that coming but man oh man.. let the games begin
June 17, 2026
Silver is power! I really love how this series was inspired by the beloved classic The Princess Bride. Reckonings is a dark dystopian adventure at its finest! The love triangle is angsty, the danger from all sides is thrilling, and the way Lissa unleashes and embraces her own extraordinary power is both empowering and riveting. The world-building is incredible with the Cards, factions, and gang wars! A definite page turner by Jess Stevens!
June 22, 2026
Book 2 in this series was beyond what I could've comprehended. I LOVED watching Lissa grow into herself and become more confident in who she is and in her decisions. But the struggles she still endures felt so relatable. Not knowing who to trust and questioning what's best for you and those around you.
Overall, the pieces are slowly and amazingly coming together. And I can't wait to see what Jess has in store for us in book 3.
Overall, the pieces are slowly and amazingly coming together. And I can't wait to see what Jess has in store for us in book 3.
June 24, 2026
This book had me slightly confused in some chapters but overall it was a good read. The fact that Gideon had a twin brother and that they were suppose to mate with twin girls to create a new elite silver group had me baffled. I want to know more like yesterday with that cliff hanger ending too of Lissa running away from the farm.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2026
This is the second book in the Silver Games Series. And it did not disappoint! Lissa battles her internal darkness. But she also occasionally gives in to the carnal darkness within her. This book kept me hooked and I can't wait for more!
Review of advance copy received from Author
That twist in the last 100 pages...... dang dude. I was not expecting that. This world you have built is more twisted than I originally thought!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ahhhh that was SO GOOD!!! OMG!!! I need the next book ASAP. Jess leaves us with the best cliffhangers. I just know the 3rd book is gonna be crazy! I can't wait.
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