Game of Strength and Storm
by Rachel Menard
Publisher: Fluxoks
Genres: YA fiction, fantasy, mythology retelling, romance
Release date: June 7, 2022
A YA gender-bent Hercules retelling told in multi-pov.
About the Book
Victory is the only option.
Once a year, the Olympian Empresses grant the wishes of ten people selected by a lottery—for a price. Seventeen-year-old Gen, a former circus performer, wants the freedom of her father, who was sentenced to life in prison for murders she knows he didn’t commit. Castor plans to carry the island Arcadia into the future in place of her brother, Pollux, but only after the Empresses force a change in her island’s archaic laws that requires a male heir.
To get what they want, Gen and Castor must race to complete the better half of ten nearly impossible labors. They have to catch the fastest ship in the sea, slay the immortal Hydra, defeat a gangster called the Boar, and capture the flesh-eating Mares, among other deadly tasks.
Gen has her magic, her ability to speak to animals, her inhuman strength—and the help of Pollux, who’s been secretly pining for her for years. But Castor has her own gifts: the power of the storms, along with endless coin. Only one can win. The other walks away with nothing—if she walks away at all.
Purchase Links
Current promos on their websites:
· 30% off fall release preorders using code SPRING22
· Free shipping when you spend over $30
My thoughts
I’m a big fan of new twists on old myths, and this book didn’t disappoint. In this Herculean retelling, the residents of Olympia enter a lottery to be able to ask for a wish from the Empresses. Gen and Cas are among this year's winners. They both have something they want that they can’t get without their wish being granted. What they don’t expect is to be given a list of tasks to complete. The person who completes the most tasks will have their wish granted.
With strong, likable female leads and a cast of just as likable supporting characters, it was easy to devour the pages of this creative fantasy. The tasks are dangerous and difficult and are approached cunningly and with courage. Fans of mythology and fantasy are sure to enjoy this book.
Author’s note on the cover
If I could draw, this is what I would have created for the GAME OF STRENGTH AND STORM cover. I started writing this story three years ago, and over the course of drafts, I had developed pretty detailed images of Gen and Castor in my mind. This is them. This is exactly how I see them. Gen with her quiet defiance, and Castor about to light the world on fire. Standing back-to-back with their magical abilities on display, this looks like a poster for an epic fantasy battle, and that’s exactly what readers will find beyond this gorgeous cover!
Author Bio
Rachel Menard was born in New Jersey, raised in Arizona, and then relocated to Rhode Island. Throughout her life she has been a barista, college radio DJ, singer in an alt-country band, marketer, designer, and finally, a writer. Her short fiction has been featured on Cast of Wonders and her editorial work has been seen in Writer’s Digest. Game of Strength and Storm is her debut novel.
Connect with Rachel:
Twitter: @Missusm
Instagram: @menardrachel
TikTok: @Rachel_Writes_Books
Blog/Website(s): www.rachelmenard.com
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