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A Game of Sin
Not yet published
Expected 29 Sep 26Know your sin...
or know your death.
Lesser noble Evelyn Vhodes worships the seven deadly sins and rides demonic horses for pleasure. All she desires is the perfect suitor, until her mother is stricken with a deadly disease.
Only the power of demons can save her. An unharnessed power burrowed in a jungle crater far from their reach. Too costly a venture for a noble house seeking to elevate itself beyond the weight of its debts.
Evelyn’s plan is seduce a pompous prince to solve their problems. Practiced in the art of persuasion, it should be easy enough, but deceiving a man of power risks another host of consequences. Consequences that come into play when two rival princes wrench her into their schemes.
That is, if she doesn’t catch the scrutiny of the princes’ father. The warrior king only shows mercy through blade and blood.
Steeped in relationship drama and political intrigue, this romantic fantasy delivers a story of desire, power, and betrayal. It will meet your craving for a morally complex heroine, who influences broader factions with her toxic choices. Imagine if the protagonist from Tricia Levenseller's The Shadows Between Us entered the sinful backdrop of Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco.
or know your death.
Lesser noble Evelyn Vhodes worships the seven deadly sins and rides demonic horses for pleasure. All she desires is the perfect suitor, until her mother is stricken with a deadly disease.
Only the power of demons can save her. An unharnessed power burrowed in a jungle crater far from their reach. Too costly a venture for a noble house seeking to elevate itself beyond the weight of its debts.
Evelyn’s plan is seduce a pompous prince to solve their problems. Practiced in the art of persuasion, it should be easy enough, but deceiving a man of power risks another host of consequences. Consequences that come into play when two rival princes wrench her into their schemes.
That is, if she doesn’t catch the scrutiny of the princes’ father. The warrior king only shows mercy through blade and blood.
Steeped in relationship drama and political intrigue, this romantic fantasy delivers a story of desire, power, and betrayal. It will meet your craving for a morally complex heroine, who influences broader factions with her toxic choices. Imagine if the protagonist from Tricia Levenseller's The Shadows Between Us entered the sinful backdrop of Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco.
332 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 29, 2026
About the author
Ederi Rowe
1 book3 followersEderi Rowe is a nerdy Norwegian who enjoys gaming, tabletop roleplaying and fantasy books. She picked up English from her early childhood in the USA before returning to Norway. Today, she holds a PhD in the magical art of biostatistics.
As a scientist and fantasy writer, she strives for believability in all her works, whether they involve intrigue, adventure, or romance. You will find her penning her next novel in Oslo, Norway, with her husband and attention-seeking pharaoh hound.
As a scientist and fantasy writer, she strives for believability in all her works, whether they involve intrigue, adventure, or romance. You will find her penning her next novel in Oslo, Norway, with her husband and attention-seeking pharaoh hound.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 1, 2026
(3.75/5)stars
I was given this arc courtesy of NetGalley
A Game of Sin had enough to keep me turning the pages, but it never completely hooked me. The chemistry between the main characters was there from the start, and when the story leaned into the tension and the steam, it definitely delivered. That part of the book was hard to put down.
Where it lost me was the pacing. A few scenes dragged on longer than they needed to, and some of the decisions the characters made felt more like they were there to create drama than because they made sense. I kept waiting for a bigger payoff that never quite landed.
That said, I still enjoyed the ride. The writing was solid, the spice was well done without taking over the whole story, and there were enough twists to keep things interesting. It wasn’t a favorite I’ll reread, but I don’t regret picking it up. If you like darker romance with plenty of tension and a heavy dose of spice, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy it more than I did.
I was given this arc courtesy of NetGalley
A Game of Sin had enough to keep me turning the pages, but it never completely hooked me. The chemistry between the main characters was there from the start, and when the story leaned into the tension and the steam, it definitely delivered. That part of the book was hard to put down.
Where it lost me was the pacing. A few scenes dragged on longer than they needed to, and some of the decisions the characters made felt more like they were there to create drama than because they made sense. I kept waiting for a bigger payoff that never quite landed.
That said, I still enjoyed the ride. The writing was solid, the spice was well done without taking over the whole story, and there were enough twists to keep things interesting. It wasn’t a favorite I’ll reread, but I don’t regret picking it up. If you like darker romance with plenty of tension and a heavy dose of spice, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy it more than I did.
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August 11, 2026Hi everyone! Here's a welcome note, not a rating.
I outlined A Game of Sin back in 2018, and boy, does the final product look different from those initial drafts. Only a couple scenes survived the purge. No wonder, since it's been through critique partners, beta readers, and editors.
Note that this is a romantic fantasy, meaning it’s something between fantasy and romantasy.
✍️ British English (color = colour, realize = realise)
⏳❤️🔥 Slow burn
🚫🌶️ No smut
If you want the full list of tropes, FAQs and trigger warnings, I’ve put it all here.
Have a great day, and happy reading! 📖
I outlined A Game of Sin back in 2018, and boy, does the final product look different from those initial drafts. Only a couple scenes survived the purge. No wonder, since it's been through critique partners, beta readers, and editors.
Note that this is a romantic fantasy, meaning it’s something between fantasy and romantasy.
✍️ British English (color = colour, realize = realise)
⏳❤️🔥 Slow burn
🚫🌶️ No smut
If you want the full list of tropes, FAQs and trigger warnings, I’ve put it all here.
Have a great day, and happy reading! 📖
August 8, 2026
dnf at 40%
This starts off extremely slow for me, but it still had my attention, and I was interested to see how the story and characters would develop. Unfortunately, I struggled to stay engaged as the story progressed. The pacing felt slow to me, and I found myself waiting for the plot to gain momentum and give me a reason to continue. I just wasn’t invested enough in the characters or the direction of the plot to finish the book. It’s definitely a slow burn though, but even at 40% there was barely any interaction.
Since I didn’t finish the book, I’m only reviewing the portion I read and will not be rating the ending or overall resolution.
*Thank you NetGalley for this arc
This starts off extremely slow for me, but it still had my attention, and I was interested to see how the story and characters would develop. Unfortunately, I struggled to stay engaged as the story progressed. The pacing felt slow to me, and I found myself waiting for the plot to gain momentum and give me a reason to continue. I just wasn’t invested enough in the characters or the direction of the plot to finish the book. It’s definitely a slow burn though, but even at 40% there was barely any interaction.
Since I didn’t finish the book, I’m only reviewing the portion I read and will not be rating the ending or overall resolution.
*Thank you NetGalley for this arc
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A magic system based on demonic religion, morally flawed characters, scheming nobles, and a king whose mercy arrives via blade and blood.
A Game of Sin was an addictive read with an interesting magic system, strong character dynamics, and lots of political intrigue. Steeped in power plays, it really delivers on desire, and betrayal. If you enjoy slowburn romance, and a fantasy world where religion and sin are central to the plot rather than just flavor, this is definitely worth reading.
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
In a world torn between a demonic faith centered on Lucifer and the Seven Deadly Sins, and a Virtuist, angel‑aligned religion, lesser noble Evelyn Vhodes worships the sins, rides demonic horses, and dreams of securing the perfect suitor. That is until her family is dragged into a brutal game of power.
Evelyn finds herself navigating dangerous court politics. As her choices ripple through kingdoms, she has to confront what her true sin really is, and whether she’s willing to let it rule her.
I loved the worldbuilding and the religions. They weren't just aesthetic wallpaper. They were baked into everything: politics, family dynamics, and especially Evelyn’s arc.
The writing style really worked for me, it was descriptive without being dense, easy to follow without feeling simplistic. It’s one of those books you sit down “just for a chapter” and suddenly you’ve inhaled 150 pages, because the plot is engaging, the tension keeps ratcheting up, and you constantly want to know what is going to happen next.
Also, at one point I realized I was fully tearing up over these horrible, sinful people trying (and failing) to do better, which is honestly my favorite kind of reading experience.
Now, about that ending: if this were a standalone, I’d feel a little robbed. It doesn’t quite give me the level of resolution I’d want if we were saying goodbye to these characters forever. Instead, it feels like a deliberate setup for more books, and I really, really hope that’s the case, because I loved this and it’s definitely a new favorite.
Oh, and btw, I LOOOOOOOOOOVE Pit.
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For my complete review, check when sin becomes a magic system
A Game of Sin was an addictive read with an interesting magic system, strong character dynamics, and lots of political intrigue. Steeped in power plays, it really delivers on desire, and betrayal. If you enjoy slowburn romance, and a fantasy world where religion and sin are central to the plot rather than just flavor, this is definitely worth reading.
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
In a world torn between a demonic faith centered on Lucifer and the Seven Deadly Sins, and a Virtuist, angel‑aligned religion, lesser noble Evelyn Vhodes worships the sins, rides demonic horses, and dreams of securing the perfect suitor. That is until her family is dragged into a brutal game of power.
Evelyn finds herself navigating dangerous court politics. As her choices ripple through kingdoms, she has to confront what her true sin really is, and whether she’s willing to let it rule her.
I loved the worldbuilding and the religions. They weren't just aesthetic wallpaper. They were baked into everything: politics, family dynamics, and especially Evelyn’s arc.
The writing style really worked for me, it was descriptive without being dense, easy to follow without feeling simplistic. It’s one of those books you sit down “just for a chapter” and suddenly you’ve inhaled 150 pages, because the plot is engaging, the tension keeps ratcheting up, and you constantly want to know what is going to happen next.
Also, at one point I realized I was fully tearing up over these horrible, sinful people trying (and failing) to do better, which is honestly my favorite kind of reading experience.
Now, about that ending: if this were a standalone, I’d feel a little robbed. It doesn’t quite give me the level of resolution I’d want if we were saying goodbye to these characters forever. Instead, it feels like a deliberate setup for more books, and I really, really hope that’s the case, because I loved this and it’s definitely a new favorite.
Oh, and btw, I LOOOOOOOOOOVE Pit.
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For my complete review, check when sin becomes a magic system
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Thank you to netgalley and the author for this advance copy*
My oh my, what an adventure that was!
Demon religion, morally flawed characters, kingdoms, assholian kings and bratty princes.
What's not to love?
Our flawed main protagonist , Evelyn Vhodes.. where to begin.
Love her or hate her, everything she does is to save her mother from the Leviathans Kiss, that will definitely kill her. Her brother, Pit, head of the Vhodes household is gamiling and poorly investing their money away. Broke. Desprite.
Time is running out, Eveyln must seduce, scheme and make sacrafices in order to save her mother from death, and her family from ruin, all while keeping toes in line with King Hedric of the Caelish throne, and his competetive sons and daughters.
I really liked the writing style here. Descriptive but not saturated in overly dense description either.
The world building was impressive. Creating a whole world of dueling kingdoms, demonic religion, full of sins, horses, magic, bandits, hidden artifacts. The list goes on and on.
This was definitely a slow burn romance, one of was hoping for by the end.
The only reason this wasn't 5 stars was because I did find the pacing alittle slow at times.
Overall, a fantastic read!
My oh my, what an adventure that was!
Demon religion, morally flawed characters, kingdoms, assholian kings and bratty princes.
What's not to love?
Our flawed main protagonist , Evelyn Vhodes.. where to begin.
Love her or hate her, everything she does is to save her mother from the Leviathans Kiss, that will definitely kill her. Her brother, Pit, head of the Vhodes household is gamiling and poorly investing their money away. Broke. Desprite.
Time is running out, Eveyln must seduce, scheme and make sacrafices in order to save her mother from death, and her family from ruin, all while keeping toes in line with King Hedric of the Caelish throne, and his competetive sons and daughters.
I really liked the writing style here. Descriptive but not saturated in overly dense description either.
The world building was impressive. Creating a whole world of dueling kingdoms, demonic religion, full of sins, horses, magic, bandits, hidden artifacts. The list goes on and on.
This was definitely a slow burn romance, one of was hoping for by the end.
The only reason this wasn't 5 stars was because I did find the pacing alittle slow at times.
Overall, a fantastic read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was an amazingly clever book built around a world where people pray to Lucifer and the Seven Deadly Sins. The way this theme was woven throughout the story, particularly through Eva's journey, was incredibly well done.
Eva gradually comes to realise what her own sin is, having never truly recognised it before. She relies on her charm to get what she wants, but as the story unfolds, she begins to question whether everything is really as it seems. Watching her character develop was one of the highlights of the book.
The story was easy to read, engaging, and kept me wanting to know what would happen next. There were plenty of twists, unexpected moments, and revelations that kept me turning the pages.
My only disappointment was the ending. While it was emotional and thought-provoking, it didn't quite feel like a complete conclusion. I would have loved more reflection on Eva and Aster's relationship and a stronger sense of where they stood by the end.
Overall, this was a clever, original, and thoroughly enjoyable read that I would happily recommend.
Eva gradually comes to realise what her own sin is, having never truly recognised it before. She relies on her charm to get what she wants, but as the story unfolds, she begins to question whether everything is really as it seems. Watching her character develop was one of the highlights of the book.
The story was easy to read, engaging, and kept me wanting to know what would happen next. There were plenty of twists, unexpected moments, and revelations that kept me turning the pages.
My only disappointment was the ending. While it was emotional and thought-provoking, it didn't quite feel like a complete conclusion. I would have loved more reflection on Eva and Aster's relationship and a stronger sense of where they stood by the end.
Overall, this was a clever, original, and thoroughly enjoyable read that I would happily recommend.
July 9, 2026
“Evelyn Vhodes was a proper lady, and all proper ladies had a demonic horse”
She is no one. A lady. Almost in disgrace. He is the Prince. He wants something. She wants something too. Imagine how wrong but how right this can go !! Demons, sin, tension, politics and a plot that will have you question every single interaction between the characters. It will be complicated before it gets incredibly simple. It will be sad and mad and frustrating before it gets rewarding and satisfying. It’s new adult and so much more fantasy than romantasy. And I really really enjoyed it!! I was not expecting myself to be so caught up in the action but it was really fact paced so it was extremely easy for me to get lost in Evelyn’s story. I would highly recommend this book for fantasy lovers who wants a bit of darkness in their plots and some demons fighting for a throne and for a lady !!!
“Screw Prince Aster’s pride. Tomorrow, she would give her all to win”
She is no one. A lady. Almost in disgrace. He is the Prince. He wants something. She wants something too. Imagine how wrong but how right this can go !! Demons, sin, tension, politics and a plot that will have you question every single interaction between the characters. It will be complicated before it gets incredibly simple. It will be sad and mad and frustrating before it gets rewarding and satisfying. It’s new adult and so much more fantasy than romantasy. And I really really enjoyed it!! I was not expecting myself to be so caught up in the action but it was really fact paced so it was extremely easy for me to get lost in Evelyn’s story. I would highly recommend this book for fantasy lovers who wants a bit of darkness in their plots and some demons fighting for a throne and for a lady !!!
“Screw Prince Aster’s pride. Tomorrow, she would give her all to win”
July 28, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Ederi Rowe for the ARC.
Plot 3.5/5
Characters 3/5
Ending 3.5/5
Interest 3/5
Overall 3/5
-Unfortunately this book didn’t grip me as much as I hoped it would. The beginning was very promising because it felt like we dove straight into the action without having to wait around for things to happen. But it felt like it slowed down a little. It was still a very good plot line with great moments, just not exactly right for me.
-I didn’t particularly connect with the characters. Which is a shame because there were some great moments where I really rooted for Eve but as a whole I did’t really care what happened to them.
-By the ending I did feel very intrigued by the whole storyline with the princes. But it felt a little incomplete so I assume there will be a sequel. But overall it still ended nicely.
Plot 3.5/5
Characters 3/5
Ending 3.5/5
Interest 3/5
Overall 3/5
-Unfortunately this book didn’t grip me as much as I hoped it would. The beginning was very promising because it felt like we dove straight into the action without having to wait around for things to happen. But it felt like it slowed down a little. It was still a very good plot line with great moments, just not exactly right for me.
-I didn’t particularly connect with the characters. Which is a shame because there were some great moments where I really rooted for Eve but as a whole I did’t really care what happened to them.
-By the ending I did feel very intrigued by the whole storyline with the princes. But it felt a little incomplete so I assume there will be a sequel. But overall it still ended nicely.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
There was a lot going on in this book between the demon / angel lore and the characters. I struggled a bit with the premise of their religion. If this was spread into two books and the story was fleshed out a little more I think it could’ve been a solid read. Overall, it was an interesting premise and a unique idea. The love story didn’t land for me though.
The story follows Eve, a low tier noble trying to find a husband that can save her family from their misfortunes of low funds and no prospects. A random turn of fate leads her to meet prince Sinclair and leads her down a nebulous path with him and his family as she tries to save her mother from her ill fate as well as bring her family out of poverty.
There was a lot going on in this book between the demon / angel lore and the characters. I struggled a bit with the premise of their religion. If this was spread into two books and the story was fleshed out a little more I think it could’ve been a solid read. Overall, it was an interesting premise and a unique idea. The love story didn’t land for me though.
The story follows Eve, a low tier noble trying to find a husband that can save her family from their misfortunes of low funds and no prospects. A random turn of fate leads her to meet prince Sinclair and leads her down a nebulous path with him and his family as she tries to save her mother from her ill fate as well as bring her family out of poverty.
August 4, 2026
ARC from NetGalley!
This book was amazing. The way the story tied together and everything had a meaning that you got to uncover alongside Eve was great. I really enjoyed the world building and the characters were made so human. They all had their flaws and good characteristics. I was rooting for Aster from the second that he mentioned 🙈 Though I learnt to sympathise with Sinclair as well towards the end. Eve was more complicated. In my eyes she was a good person. Yes, she succumbed to the sin of Pride more often than not but she learnt from her mistakes and it all came from a good heart. She was what a great FMC should be like for me and I got really attached to her and the other characters. (not Hedric though, he can rot in between the realms 🙋♀️)
This book was amazing. The way the story tied together and everything had a meaning that you got to uncover alongside Eve was great. I really enjoyed the world building and the characters were made so human. They all had their flaws and good characteristics. I was rooting for Aster from the second that he mentioned 🙈 Though I learnt to sympathise with Sinclair as well towards the end. Eve was more complicated. In my eyes she was a good person. Yes, she succumbed to the sin of Pride more often than not but she learnt from her mistakes and it all came from a good heart. She was what a great FMC should be like for me and I got really attached to her and the other characters. (not Hedric though, he can rot in between the realms 🙋♀️)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for reaching out and providing me a copy through my work!
This book is perfect for people who want to advance from YA and into more adult literature. It deals with more adult aspects of themes of sin, guilt, family and accountability.
That being said, the book just wasnt for me. I prever more drawn out/slower, darker reads. Honestly feel like I would have loved it if the main character was Aster and it started with the war!
The writing was fine, not too lyrical —which is my preference— but also not too simple and YA leaning! Pacing was a tad bit too fast for my taste and too action driven compared to character driven imho.
This book is perfect for people who want to advance from YA and into more adult literature. It deals with more adult aspects of themes of sin, guilt, family and accountability.
That being said, the book just wasnt for me. I prever more drawn out/slower, darker reads. Honestly feel like I would have loved it if the main character was Aster and it started with the war!
The writing was fine, not too lyrical —which is my preference— but also not too simple and YA leaning! Pacing was a tad bit too fast for my taste and too action driven compared to character driven imho.
June 30, 2026
A Game of Sin was an addictive read with an interesting magic system, strong character dynamics, and lots of suspense! The story started a little slow, but once it picked up, I was hooked!
If you enjoy morally gray characters, political intrigue, and slow-burn romance, this is definitely worth reading. ☺️
I can’t wait to see what happens next!!
Pub Date: September 29,2026
Thank you to the author (Ederi Rowe) & Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own!
If you enjoy morally gray characters, political intrigue, and slow-burn romance, this is definitely worth reading. ☺️
I can’t wait to see what happens next!!
Pub Date: September 29,2026
Thank you to the author (Ederi Rowe) & Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own!
August 6, 2026
3.5⭐️ A morally grey FMC who is trying to seduce a prince so she can go on a voyage to find a way to heal her mom. I enjoyed the world and the characters, it was a bit difficult to read at the beginning some of the world building seemed a little choppy. I think a few more pages on that to draw me in more initially would’ve helped, but it took until the last third of the book for me to get really invested.
NetgalleyARC review
NetgalleyARC review
Review of advance copy
I am absolutely enamored with this book. The mystery, the intrigue, and the depth of the characters completely hooked me. The writing is poetic, yet never feels distracting or dense.
It's rare to find a protagonist who is arguably the villain, yet I couldn't help but be sucked into her journey—constantly finding myself rooting both for and against her at different points.
Furthermore, the way Ederi developed the Demonism religion was incredibly well done. The way it intricately ties into the main character's growth felt entirely refreshing and new, adding a brilliant layer to the overall story.
I really want to find out what happens next and hope there's more in store for these characters!
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It's rare to find a protagonist who is arguably the villain, yet I couldn't help but be sucked into her journey—constantly finding myself rooting both for and against her at different points.
Furthermore, the way Ederi developed the Demonism religion was incredibly well done. The way it intricately ties into the main character's growth felt entirely refreshing and new, adding a brilliant layer to the overall story.
I really want to find out what happens next and hope there's more in store for these characters!
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A cool, solidly written romantic fantasy full of scheming nobels, awful kings and high stakes that features a magic system based on sins and virtues, an interesting mystery and demonic horses!
The main character is smart, calculated, flawed and at times really hard to like, which made for an entertaining read.
I wish we could've seen more of the magic and the sinsteeds, tho!
The main character is smart, calculated, flawed and at times really hard to like, which made for an entertaining read.
I wish we could've seen more of the magic and the sinsteeds, tho!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank NetGalley for the ARC.
A fresh new take on demonology! From the first few pages, this book keeps you in its grip. The character and would building were on point. Lucifer and the seven deadly sins are the main focus.
A slow burn romance steeped in power plays, desire and betrayal.
You won’t be disappointed reading this.
A fresh new take on demonology! From the first few pages, this book keeps you in its grip. The character and would building were on point. Lucifer and the seven deadly sins are the main focus.
A slow burn romance steeped in power plays, desire and betrayal.
You won’t be disappointed reading this.
Review of advance copy
Interesting story, enjoyed the concept of having to really know yourself to be able to survive death. Gave me lots to think about.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 stars
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