Desafio Enigma

by S.C. Godfrey

Um romance repleto de ação que acompanha uma dupla improvável numa competição perigosa pela Europa.

Zoe Wilder leva a vida discreta e solitária de uma académica numa universidade da Califórnia. Quando a sua investigação a conduz a uma conferência de criptologia em Madrid, ela não espera desencadear o Desafio Enigma, uma competição clandestina em que poucos se atrevem a participar. Pois os riscos são altos: se perder, a sua identidade é apagada para sempre. Depressa Zoe se apercebe de que está a lidar com forças bastante perigosas.

Em Madrid cruza-se com Dane Seaver: um misterioso criptólogo e hacker que insiste para que formem uma equipa. Dane conhece o Desafio Enigma - os seus segredos, os seus participantes - e Zoe é especialista em cifras. Precisam um do outro, para o bem ou para o mal.

Além disso, a atração entre eles torna-se cada vez mais difícil de ignorar, mas não há tempo para distrações. Com doze milhões de dólares e várias vidas em jogo, no Desafio Enigma tudo pode acontecer. Será que Zoe e Dane sairão ilesos da competição contra os outros jogadores - e um contra o outro?

Oceans Eleven encontra O Código Da Vinci neste livro repleto de ação que acompanha uma dupla improvável numa competição perigosa e de alto risco pela Europa.

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Spain

344 pages, Capa mole

First published August 11, 2026

About the author

SC Godfrey is the author of The Enigma Challenge (2026 from Viking Penguin). She's also the author of A Very Typical Family and The Second Chance Hotel writing under Sierra Godfrey. When not working on books, she can be found reading fast-paced, exciting thrillers, mysteries, and romance. She lives in the Bay Area with her family. Find her at sierragodfrey.com or on Instagram/Threads @sierragodfrey.

Reviews

[Jannelies]

What an enjoyable story this was, full of interesting characters – the good as well as the bad – and with vivid descriptions of Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and parts of Scotland. It made me want to go there myself again (because I’ve visited those places already), to walk the streets and taste the food and wine. It’s so good to see a story where people, although on the run the most of the time, try and find comfort in delicious food and drink.

Zoe Wilder travels to a conference on cryptology in Madrid. She’s pursuing a PhD on this subject, especially about crypto in literature. To be honest, it made me want immediately to browse the internet and find more on this subject. I’ve always been interested in the Enigma machines and how they were invented and how they played a big part in WWII. Anyway, I discovered to my great joy that there is a virtual museum dedicated to Crypto (named Crypto Museum) and from there on, I of course landed on pages about Bletchley Park. The result is that I will plan a visit to Bletchley Park sometime in the spring next year 😉. Something I should have done years ago already, but well… And obviously Bletchley Park has nothing to do with this book but it’s nice that just surfing a little now made me decided to really go there.

Anyway, back to Zoe and Dane, the handsome and very interesting man she meets on her first day in Madrid. And from there one, the story takes off at a neck breaking pace that only stops at the very end. There are multiple layers in this story and although some of it is quite obvious, it is all very neatly executed and it was nice to learn something about crypto systems. It’s all a bit over the top to be honest but sometimes you just need to read a story like this and just enjoy yourself.

Thanks to Pamela Dorman Books and Edelweiss for this review copy.

[Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill]

Wow!! I can’t believe this is @sierragodfrey first thriller!! It was fantastic. Thank you @vikingbooks #partner for the gifted gorgeous physical copy. Thank you @prhaudio #prhaudiopartner for the free audiobook and of course my cute penguin 🐧 🎧 mug!! 🥰🥰🥰🫶🫶🫶🫶

Guys… listen this book is so good!! It’s SO unique and clever… hellooo there is a reason it’s 4.08 on GR. Just saying… think… The Puzzle 🧩 Master X The Amazing Race … add in someone trying to murder you the entire time..😳😂… and just a dash of romance.. 🥰… This kept me on my toes the entire time!!

So literally, I did skip back and forth between the physical copy and the audiobook. I took this book EVERYWHERE!! 🤷‍♀️🎧 Sorryyyy can’t hear you… listening to my audiobook…. Seriously… every single time. 😂

Zoe has been warned… don’t attempt The Enigma Challenge… because the stakes are high… if you lose.. it’s like selling your soul.. if you win.. SAME.🤯😳

Just when I thought it had wrapped up… a major twist completely blindsided me. 😳😦😮🫣 Literally… my face… then I began to hope… OHHH are we going to get another book?!!! 🤔… A girl can hope!! 😍

Is this on your TBR???

[Erin]

ARC for review. To be published August 11, 2026.

2.5 stars

This seems like an effort to create something Dan Brownish which would be better if the puzzles weren’t so easy. The author is trying to convince the reader that only the world’s elite puzzle masters could solve these riddles, so Zoe should have had these done in about three minutes, while juggling champagne glasses while riding a unicycle.

Not much to be said about the book as it is exactly what you would expect - puzzles, espionage, instalove. If it were me I certainly wouldn’t be engaging in any of this and risking my life if I didn’t need the money…DANE.

[Manon (mysterymanon)]

What a fun ride! Love this action-packed treasure-hunting thriller because a) obviously???? and b) I’m a sucker for any combination of intrigue + romance.

This included a lot more of the latter than I expected—especially towards the end, where it veered a little cheesy—but the fact that it unfolded alongside a high-stakes international cryptology competition made it all the more fun. Definitely keeping an eye out for this sequel!

[Carlene]

Do you like books with code breaking and treasure hunts?
I have long been a fan of books like Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code and contemporary thrillers like Salem’s Cipher by Jess Lourey, so The Enigma Challenge by S.C. Godfrey was right up my alley. I loved the idea that these modern puzzle geniuses would be running around Europe in a high stakes competition. What I wasn’t prepared for was just how high the stakes were, with identity deletion promised for any losers, of which there are many. Even worse? Zoe Wilder is being eyed by every competitor, she has what none of them do, a natural talent with ciphers and through bad luck, an alliance with a previous winner.
The Enigma Challenge is fast paced, a bit romantic, and at times, ludicrous, but fun. I enjoyed Zoe Wilder immensely, though for someone so smart in puzzle breaking, she really went into this challenge blind. Her connection with Dane is palpable, with both fighting the chemistry as it’s hard to tell what’s real, what’s fear based, and what might be one another using each other just to win. From trains to crowded tourist stops and wealthy money-hungry rival to trained muscle, The Enigma Challenge is anything but boring. It’s chaotic, with just the right amount of action and romance to keep you entertained with every page. I was absolutely fascinated by the locations, the clever puzzles, and the unique history tied into the fist-throwing, bloody fights of the challengers as they fight to steal clues, answers, and the prize. I’d watch this on the big screen, that’s for sure.
I both read and listened, the audio narrator was fantastic (those accents!), but you really want the puzzles on paper or screen in front of you.

[Meredith]

This book was incredible and so unique. With fast-paced writing, vivid descriptions, and heart-pounding scenes it felt like an actual action movie. From the moment I picked it up I was hooked!

Dr. Zoe Wilder is an American academic cryptologist at a conference in Madrid. After ending things with her boyfriend Eric, she decides to enter the Enigma Challenge. Unfortunately, Zoe has no idea she’s just entered into a game with the highest stakes imaginable. Lose or drop out, and your entire identity will be permanently deleted. Solve the five puzzles and win, and you will receive 12 million dollars.

Dean Seaver, cybersecurity expert and Eric’s enemy number one, realizes the Enigma Challenge has begun and requests they team up. Suddenly, Zoe finds herself in a do-or-die situation as she learns just how far others will go to win. Dane and Zoe decide they must put some trust in one another as they fight to win and stay alive.

This was great from start to finish. I loved the ending and would love it even more if there was a sequel one day!

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Dozelina 666]

Well, this was right up my alley!

Zoe is an academic who loves ciphers and puzzles, and while attending a cryptology conference in Madrid, she accidentally finds herself participating in the Enigma Challenge, a secretive competition she knows very little about. What starts with solving a seemingly simple cipher quickly turns into something much, muuuuch bigger and MUCH more dangerous.

Enter Dane, another player who convinces Zoe that they should team up. He claims to know the game pretty well after winning it twice before, although let's just say he's conveniently leaving out a few details...

And from there? Pure chaos.

They have five puzzles to solve in six days, people are chasing them, competitors are willing to do pretty much anything to win; and Zoe and Dane are constantly moving from one location to another trying to stay alive long enough to figure out the next clue.

As someone who LOVES puzzles, escape rooms, detective games, discovery games and basically anything that gives me something to solve, I had so much fun reading this book. The entire Enigma Challenge gave me the same kind of feeling I get from escape-room movies and games: solve the puzzle, figure out where you're supposed to go next, and preferably DO NOT get killed along the way. You know... normal vacation activities.

I especially loved the use of ciphers. Puzzles aren't exactly unusual in thrillers, but I don't come across books centered around ciphers nearly as often, so that made the whole experience even more interesting for me.

I also really enjoyed traveling across Europe with the characters. Madrid, Barcelona, France and beyond; the constantly changing scenery worked perfectly with the pace of the competition. With only six days to complete everything, there isn't much time to sit around. They're solving something in one place and practically running toward the next destination immediately afterward.

And let's talk about Zoe and Dane because the romance was definitely THERE. Their banter and chemistry worked really well for me, and I actually think the romance plays a substantial enough role that I'd personally consider this romantic suspense rather than simply a mystery/thriller with a tiny romantic subplot.

The twists kept things interesting, and toward the end? Oh boy. Things got INTENSE.

Did I want Dane to grovel a little more? Absolutely. Sir, I had expectations. Unfortunately, with everything happening toward the end, there wasn't exactly much time available for an extended groveling tour.

Is the general idea of solving puzzles while being chased through increasingly dangerous situations completely new? No. I've definitely seen similar concepts in escape-room style movies and games before. But the cipher focus, European setting, characters, romance and execution made this one incredibly entertaining for me.

Overall, I had such a good time. It had puzzles, ciphers, suspense, romance, twists, travel, danger, and plenty of chaos, basically a checklist of things I enjoy.

No complaints from me. I ate this one up. But... I have one question, based on the ending... ARE WE GETTING A SEQUEL????

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you Sierra Godfrey, Viking and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.

https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...

[Sandy]

A great book featuring main character Dr. Zoe Wilder who is a cryptologist from the San Francisco Bay area. She has traveled to Madrid to present a paper with the support of her boss and significant other, Eric. Zoe has a bigger objective: to play in the annual Enigma Challenge. Little does Zoey know how high the stakes are for losing.

The first clue brings Zoey to a famous statue in Madrid where she finds not only an encrypted clue to be solved but also Dane Seaver. Dane is heavily involved in cyber security. and is Eric's archnemesisis. He may either prove Zoeys knight in shining armor or her ticket to "being deleted".

As Zoey continues to solve clues, most of the time being in grave danger, she waves her way through European capital cities. I

I love the depth the author writes in to her characters. The descriptive way she writes about the locations of the clues, the chases, and even scenes between characters makes the reader feel as if they are present sometimes almost painfully so.

S. C. Godfrey has written books before under her given first name. I'm thinking the move toward the change is because of the change in the genre? Im following the author now as I'd love to hear all about her research on some of the aspects of this well-written novel.

Highly recommend. One of my few 5 stars this year.

This ARC was provided by NetGalley and VikingPenguin in exchange for an honest review.

[Adah Udechukwu]

3 Stars.

That's all

[Cass☀️]

First of all, thank you to Viking Penguin, Pamela Dorman Books, NetGalley, and S. C. Godfrey for the opportunity to read this book before publication and provide an honest review.

I recommend this book if you:
🔸are a fan of the show The Amazing Race, films like The National Treasure and Indiana Jones, and books like The Davinci Code
🔸enjoy fast paced thriller or adventure novels with a dash of romance - The romantic subplot is entertaining and filled with tension but not the focus of the story which I loved!
🔸enjoy novels with lots of twists — I am crossing my fingers this is going to be a series, because I am dying for another book like this one! Especially with that ending!

I devoured this book! I loved the premise of a code/puzzle competition with a race around Europe for prize money. Traveling is probably my most beloved hobby, but puzzles are definitely the second. I need more thrillers like this one in my life, because I found this SO entertaining. I think for me it was an added bonus that the competition took them to cities that I’ve traveled. I want to applaud Godfrey on her research and attention to detail, because I thoroughly enjoyed her descriptions of these cities and she portrayed them so wonderfully.

I didn’t know very much about ciphers before reading this book, but I loved learning about them. I want to commend Godfrey on all the information she provided us without it ever feeling like an info dump or clunky. I found it fascinating and I hope to learn more about them.

[Jill Elizabeth]

I wasn't sure about this one for a while, but I'm glad I stuck with it because it wound up being fun (if a little repetitive in its relentless pursuit of the mystery). It's over the top, sure - but in a (mostly) good way, like a blockbuster movie. If you expect to not only suspend disbelief but throw the whole concept of it out the window early on, you'll find yourself on a wild ride that moves quickly and shuffles you about in zany ways.

The characters, plot, and pacing are all presented in an oversaturated technicolor bonanza of details that are engaging - and nerve-wracking. I did find some of the early back-and-forth with the puzzles to feel repetitive, but things smoothed out as the Challenge progressed, and from there to the end was a manic flurry of activity that I found quite entertaining. The last half definitely brought this solidly into four-star territory for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter]

Overall, I did enjoy this one, but it was really slow to get going, and there were parts that interrupted the pacing. I also disagree with the description calling it “fast-paced and action-packed.” Had that not been promised, I think I would have enjoyed the book a little more instead of having that slight disappointment impact my overall experience.

I did enjoy the handful of puzzles, but if you’re looking for a real challenge, these might be a disappointment. They were very simple and easy to work out, and I wish there had been more substance to the puzzles rather than some of the extraneous details that felt more like filler. I did, however, really enjoy the descriptions of the various locales, particularly the food. Honestly, I almost wish the book had pivoted into a straight romance about the two of them traveling together because that’s where I thought the book really found its strength.

I am thankful to have received a complimentary eARC from Viking Penguin via NetGalley ahead of publication. I may also read the audiobook since I have access to it and see if the narration pulls me into the story more and gives it a faster feel. If I do, I’ll update my review!

[Dianne Freeman]

An adventurous read filled with action, tension, danger, humor, and puzzles! The pacing kept me glued to the page as did the will they/won’t they between the protagonists, Zoe Wilder and Dane Seaver. They make a perfect team, and I hope they’ll be back for a sequel.

[sydney]

i did not want to get off this rollercoaster ride of a book! it is action packed from the start. this reminds me of The Amazing Race but from a cryptography perspective.

i enjoyed the buildup of the romance between the main characters. all i got to say is poor Zoe, she went through the ringer in this book :(
the found family element is so sweet and added emotional depth to the plot.

the cliffhanger should be a crime, i need the next book now!

Thank you NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the eARC.

[Mariana]

Isto foi qualquer coisa de espectacular...juro, que história incrível!!! Consegui ver tudo a desenrolar-se na perfeição na minha mente, como um filme épico de ação e mistério do qual não queria sair.

Sempre gostei de puzzles e cifras, mas depois de ler isto fiquei com um maior apreço pela arte de criar enigmas e respeito/admiração por quem vive disto e para isto. É genial...genuinamente, é preciso ser uma pessoa com a mente muito focada e especial para conseguir ler e ver nas entrelinhas como a Zoe consegue.

Só me apetece dizer "uau"...uau isto foi uma viagem surreal e louca, mas ao mesmo tempo extremamente intrigante, inteligente e apaixonante.

De certa maneira isto é O Código da Vinci para os romanticos...é uma das formas que encontro para definir esta história. É complexa sim, mas fácil de entender e de amar graças à personalidade da Zoe - ela é a narradora perfeita pois vamos nesta aventura com ela, ao mesmo tempo que a estamos a conhecer.

Temos um forced proximity entre a Zoe e o Dane que os leva numa viagem ao longo de 3 países rodeada de mistério, algum crime e muita química. Vê-los a desvendar os mistérios e a lutar contra o tempo e outras questões foi incrível.

Adorei cada instante desta aventura e agora confesso que quero viajar para estes destinos e tentar encontrar as pistas que eles encontraram 🤭
Quanto ao final...AMEI!!! Então a última revelação = bombástica!!!

[ThatsSomeGoodSmut]

Thank you to Viking Penguin, NetGalley, and the author for a copy of this book.

4.5 rounded to 5

This was a great puzzle adventure mystery. I enjoyed the game and the nods to fun and obscure puzzles and tech. This was like a new DaVinci Code. Fast paced, with interesting puzzles, a little romantic sub plot, some double crossing and people trying to thwart Zoe and Dane's progress at every turn.

[Darina’s Reads]

Review of an advanced copy received from NetGalley.

Full video review is available @DarinasReads BookTok (https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8gRRdwg/) and Bookstagram (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWyirZ...).

I went into this book believing it is going to be Dan Brown Robert Langdon kind of action adventure with puzzles and treasure hunting elements.

While I got some of it, including detailed descriptions of beautiful landmarks across Europe, it was mostly underwhelming because it quickly turned into a romance at times switching to a silly romcom with the main character acting as a teenager even though she is a 30-year-old well-known cipher researcher.

There was nothing in the description about the romance being the main aspect of the story.

Most of the time I had a strong feeling that I was reading a YA novel. The main character’s infatuation with the physical appearance of a man overruled all common sense. She blindly trusts his every single word even though she just met him under very dubious and suspicious circumstances.

She wants to solve the notorious Enigma Challenge to win a main prize yet she knows nothing about the nature of these challenges. Everything she knows about them comes from a stranger who separates her from everyone saying that she is in danger and needs to follow him. So follow she does. All across Europe. And makes everything he says even when he outright tells her to break the law or gives her unknown medicine.

The whole panties situation is ridiculously cringy. She lost her panties he found them, tucked them into his pocket and later told her that he couldn’t stop thinking about them while tending to her wrist with these dirty panties.

They are trying to solve 5 hard puzzles while being chased by other murderous players and their lackeys. Instead of focusing on evading them, surviving and outmaneuvering them, they stroll and dine in public places while she is constantly drooling over his muscled body. Focus! Are you here for a tryst or do you want to live long enough to win? 🤦‍♀️

The additional spicy scene felt unnecessary and too over-descriptive for an action adventure. My honest opinion: it would be better if it remained “behind closed doors” book, without the explicit scene.

This whole concept of deleting identities of all who played but lost, all returning players with hired teams of mercenaries, tailored puzzles… While being fun, it is also such an overstretch.

There is a twist at the end. But I saw it coming from afar.

The book’s reading target audience is very limited due to the genre blend. It’s too brainy, too action packed and too over descriptive with the landmarks for romcom readers, and too silly and juvenile vanilla for action adventure readers.

My recommendation for the team: adjust the book blurb to reflect its plot accurately and reach its target audience. This will help to ensure book’s success.

[Gigi]

A globe-trotting thriller with both romance and ciphers? Yes, please! As a fan of Masquerade and treasure hunts in general, I had so much fun with this puzzle quest that was both clever and swoony.

[Corinne Carson]

This book is absolutely movie-screen worthy! An action-packed race to solve 5 cryptic puzzles, that take you through Spain, France & Scotland, does not disappoint. Zoe Wilder, an academic studying ciphers in literature, finds herself at a conference in Madrid, where she solves the 1st puzzle in the Enigma Challenge, without knowing the rules and what's at stake or in jeopardy. Because now that she started the game, she needs to finish it and win, or else her entire identity is wiped forever. Enter the mysterious hacker, Dane Seaver, who convinces her to team up with him to win the competition. There's intrigue, tension & deception around every corner as other ruthless contestants will stop at nothing to steal the puzzle results that Zoe & Dane have uncovered. And never mind the heated passion that reveals itself between Zoe & Dane! This was unputdownable for me once I started it. It just came out on August 11th, and I think it's worth putting on your TBR list.

Many thanks to NetGalley & Pamela Dorman Books for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

[Jeannine]

I thoroughly enjoyed The Enigma Challenge by S.C. Godfrey. It is an entertaining blend of mystery, suspense, adventure, and romance that kept me turning pages from beginning to end. The novel moves at a brisk pace, and each chapter introduces new twists that make it difficult to predict what will happen next. The author also does an excellent job of bringing the European settings to life, making the story feel like an exciting international adventure. The story follows Dr. Zoe Wilder, a university scholar whose expertise in codes and ciphers unexpectedly draws her into a secret competition unlike anything she has imagined. What begins as an academic trip becomes a dangerous race across several countries, where solving complex puzzles is only one part of surviving. Along the way, Zoe reluctantly teams up with Dane Seaver, an experienced cybersecurity expert who knows far more about the mysterious competition than he initially reveals. As they work together to unravel clues, they must also determine whom they can trust while staying one step ahead of rivals who are willing to do almost anything to win.

I enjoyed the combination of intellectual puzzles and nonstop action. The cryptographic challenges add an extra layer of intrigue without slowing the pace, while the developing relationship between Zoe and Dane gives the story emotional depth. Although some plot developments require a willingness to suspend disbelief, the fast-moving narrative makes it easy to become immersed in the adventure. Overall, I found The Enigma Challenge to be an enjoyable and satisfying thriller. It successfully combines suspense, clever puzzles, memorable settings, and engaging characters into a story that is both exciting and entertaining. Readers who enjoy intelligent thrillers with international settings, hidden secrets, and a touch of romance will likely find this book to be a rewarding read.

#TheEnigmaChallenge #NetGalley #vikingbooks

[Natalie Pryce]

This book hooked me in from the first page.

In this fast paced puzzle game we meet a group of well known, very skilled, cryptologists. At a conference of great minds there is rumored to be a game of puzzles played by the attendees. Rumor has it the prize for winning is worth millions.

Meeting Zoe, a soft spoken cryptologist, we learn she has a difficult past. Her love of solving puzzles comes from her Father and she aspires to carry on the passion he instilled in her. Zoe enters the game, once she finds out she is in way over her head things start to unfold in a way she never expected.

I LOVED this book. The found family aspect and the passion for the things we love was an amazing aspect to this book. Solving cyphers was such an interesting twist and learning along with the other characters was so much fun. This book has risin to the top of my 2026 list.

Thank you NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the opportunity to read this EArc in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.

[MichelleZ]

This incredible book started off with a bang and just kept on going! I'm posting this review at 2 in the morning because I could not put it down. I read it during work (shhh...) and right through the night.

It starts off in Madrid, where Dr Zoe Wilder gets rid of her man/boss and enters the contest of her life. Who knew solving ciphers, which are Zoe's expertise, and puzzles could win millons? At the same time, it could cost her life. She teams up with Dane Seaver, who is easy on the eyes, and travels through Europe to try and win the Enigma Challenge.

One of my favorite parts about this book was looking up places they went to and seeing the beautiful things they saw. It put me right there with them as they traveled.

I highly recommend The Enigma Challenge and I'm hoping for a sequel!!!

Thank you big time to Viking Penguin, S.C. Godfrey and NetGalley for the ARC of The Enigma Challenge

[Lizz]

The Enigma Challenge is fast-paced, engaging, and really well written. The challenges themselves were complex, but they were explained clearly enough that they were easy to follow—and they actually made me curious about learning and messing around with ciphers myself. I also liked how much the story moved around; even with all the location changes, each place felt vivid and easy to picture. The interactions between the main characters and side characters felt natural and believable, which made the whole story even more enjoyable to read.

I flew through this book way faster than I expected because it was so action packed. I look forward to the next book!

Thank you NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Gabrielle D'Alessandro]

oh my gosh. we need a part ii immediately pls 😊😅🥹

[♡Heather✩Brown♡]

4.5

#ad much love for my finished copy @vikingbooks #partner
& @prhaudio #partner for the ALC

🆃🅷🅴 🅴🅽🅸🅶🅼🅰 🅲🅷🅰🅻🅻🅴🅽🅶🅴
< @
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ᴀᴜɢᴜꜱᴛ 𝟣𝟣, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟨

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲 (on steroids) 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀

𝑆𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑢𝑠 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑠…

A debut thriller bound to put SC Godfrey on the map .. checkmate bishes.

An adrenaline filled thriller with nonstop action - this one will get your heart pumping. Taut and dripping with tension, you’ll be gasping for air. The author drops us straight into the action from page one - there’s no slow burn here, so save that for your mamma.

The Enigma Challenge promises puzzles, competition, and a cash prize - but the stakes are much higher than that. Because the prize of 12 million dollars might make everything worth it, but losing could mean you being permanently deleted.

Zoe Wilder has been warned to stay away from the challenge. The challenge is rumored to be dangerous, and people have been hurt. But Zoe isn’t exactly known for backing down. She was practically built for the puzzle world - deciphering codes and solving complex problems is in her DNA.

And being deleted isn’t the only thing Zoe has to be running from, because underneath all the puzzles, danger, and adrenaline is Zoe’s grief. The loss of her parents when she was younger continues to follow her, shaping who she is and the choices she makes. It gives her character another layer beyond simply being the brilliant puzzle-solving protagonist.

I loved how quickly this story pulled me in. The puzzles were complex enough to make me think without becoming so complicated that I felt like I needed a PhD in cryptography to understand what was happening. You get to follow along without the story ever becoming bogged down in the mechanics.

🎧: Also listened to the audio while following along and recommend this audiobook. Larissa Thompson was a fabulous narrator. She brought this story to life but also had the perfect voice and sounds when needed. She’s one of those narrators you can see what she’s saying in your mind.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was Zoe and Dean’s relationship. Y’all know I’m not a romance reader - save that for the romance books - but their relationship was so well done. I loved watching how it developed, where it went, and ultimately where it ended. Literally perfect. Their antics, I can’t lie, had me hooked.

Everything has led Zoe to this moment. Every loss, every lesson, every choice has prepared her for what comes next. But preparation is one thing; having the strength to see it through is another.

Now everything is on the line.

She has everything to lose.

Let the games begin. ♟️

And that ending…say what?! 👀

Memorable
Corpsicles

[Cara Putman]

I loved the puzzle parts of this story. The characters were racing across Europe on a race to stay ahead of other teams or be deleted. The sparks fly almost as fast as the lies. What lowers this from a four to a three is the open bedroom door.

[Ricardo Rodrigues]

4.5

[Taylor Doran]

Don't judge a book by its cover because this is an adventure romance. The main characters are reluctant allies teaming up in a deadly puzzle challenge.

I love super smart main characters. I enjoy hackers and people who are really good at puzzles. They feel unstoppable and I'm super happy to be in their heads.

If you like the vibes of The Blonde Identity and want an adult version of The Inheritance Games.

4.5 stars

[Erin Rosa]

I don't like staying up late. My bedtime is 10 pm. I'd like it to be 9 pm, but that's hard to do!

Know what else was hard to do? Put this damn book down. Cryptographer (this is a real career, yes, which I'd know if I were smarter) Zoe finds herself in Europe for an academic-leaning conference at the same time as something called The Enigma Challenge is happening. This challenge is more a fierce game, as she soon realizes, and she accidentally signs up for it! Whoops!

She also accidentally ends up working alongside a handsome millionaire hacker named Dane (as one does).

It's always a nice thing when a novel starts off with a bang and keeps the momentum up (as you may understand from the bedtime stuff, I am an older millennial and crotchety, and thus I no longer care for chapters and chapters of whimsy instead of plot). Godfrey had me on the edge of my bedsheets as Zoe and Dane travel across Europe to solve puzzles (yes, truly, puzzles!), avoid being killed, and occasionally get handsy with each other.

This book is fun, if I haven't made that clear. A genuine page-turner of a thing that will, whether you like it or not, have you staying up way past your bedtime.

[Bookworm Express Kwan]

What a reviewer said about The Enigma Challenge: “This is what you’d get if a Dan Brown novel was rewritten by Emily Henry” and I definitely see where the comparison comes from. The Enigma Challenge has all the excitement and action, AND a sweeping romance packed with swoon and banter. It’s not an easy feat to mix these genres and make them work for the story, but somehow Godfrey just nailed that.

Zoe Wilder is in Spain for a conference but she’s also curious to find out whether a mysterious game called The Enigma Challenge is an internet hoax or not. When she visits a site that was mentioned on one of the forums, she finds a puzzle and solves it, which kicks off the Enigma Challenge.

I love puzzles and it was super fun (and intimidating) to see all these ciphers, secret codes, and complex puzzles woven into a story. The rush of excitement when meeting a challenge is almost as addictive as the thrill when solving them. Just know that Zoe’s decipher-skills are way too superior, so if you want to take on the challenge and try solving one yourself, you need to scribble the puzzle down and put the book away, because Zoe is quick and doesn’t need (p)ages to solve them. Which reminds me: dear publisher, would you please be so kind to print the puzzles and pictures in the reprints? No seriously, it would be amazing to be given a chance to look into the puzzles before having Zoe solve them. I love how the author described them, but I’d love to feel smart too!

Nevertheless, this was a fast paced, action-packed, romance thriller, that I’d indeed recommend for anyone who’s curious how Emily Henry would’ve rewritten a book by Dan Brown. But let’s face it: no matter how much we love Emily Henry here, it’s only S.C. Godfrey who could’ve aced it. As the story takes place in Europe Godfrey managed to squeeze some sightseeing in between hot pursuit and made my mouth water from all the delicious food in between nasty ambushes. And the romance was very much romancing, despite some serious life threatening events. Godfrey just did that all - and no one does it like her.