By: Jamie Steinberg
Falan Sunkara is a young trapeze artist in le Cirque des Ombres. Each year every performer in le Cirque is in contention to participate in a tournament where twelve of them will be pitted against one another with the sole winner surviving to have their contract at le Cirque terminated, allowing for them to start their life over again. Ringmaster Jean-Pierre and hotelier Blanchet unite to host the event and they play dirty. Falan has had a grudge against Jean-Pierre ever since her sister died in last year’s game, feeling as though the man rigged a ladder to break. In order to exact her revenge and set her fellow performers free from Jean-Pierre and his magical hold on them, Falan is determined to win this year’s Game of Oaths – no matter the cost. The Game of Oaths may be reminiscent of The Hunger Games, but this battle of wits is a war all on its own and one you will turn every page for, eager to find out who survives this fight.
It is 1896 in Paris and Falan Sunkara, a seventeen-year-old, is a trapeze artist working in le Cirque des Ombres. Each year twelve of the circus performers are pitted against one another in The Game of Oaths, a tournament where only one will survive – a secret event serving entertainment for the wealthy elite. Enchanteur/Ringmaster Jean-Pierre uses his magical hold (“le Lien”) on the performers to keep them in line while they are bound to him by contracts. Falan is fed up with Jean-Pierre as she is certain he played a hand in the death of her sister, Lavanya, in last year’s Game of Oaths. This rage fuels a plan to take him down by any means necessary. Reluctantly, she must enlist the aid of fellow trapeze artist Ronan Allaire, last year’s game winner Lucien Trichet, fellow thief/casino dealer Bellamy (possibly the only person she has left to trust in this world) and the extremely reluctant, hidden Enchanteur Jules – the [illegitimate] son of fellow game host Blancett – who is on the board that determines the game played each round. Can Falan survive long enough to take down the megalomaniacs that host The Game of Oaths and make them pay for her sister’s death? You will eagerly turn the pages of this read to find out.
Author S.C. Bandreddi completely captivates from page one. You are quickly invested in Falan’s mission, biting your nails and on the edge of your seat with every bloodthirsty round. You desperately want her alliances to work out for her so that she can bring down Jean-Pierre and remove his hold on those he has conned into taking part in le Cirque. Be prepared to realize when you come to the end of a chapter that you have been holding your breath the entire time.
The Game of Oaths is an action-packed story that will keep readers deeply invested from start to finish. Your need to protect Falan at all costs will have you wishing your screams and gasps along the way can be heard by her so she knows she is not alone in this battle. Pick up this fascinating and magical read that will keep you whispering “Chance” to Falan and her helpers.