The high-stakes of The Hunger Games. The rich magical setting of Caraval. The ensemble cast of Six of Crows. Power, revenge and sisterhood combine in this heart-pounding YA fantasy debut, set in a magical circus in Belle Époque Paris. Trapeze artist Falan Sunkara is a performer in Paris’s famous magical circus, le Cirque des Ombres. Le Cirque is ruled by Jean-Pierre, ringmaster and Enchanteur, one of the few magicians in the city legally allowed to use magic for entertainment. But the glamour of the circus is just another illusion. Each year, twelve members must compete in the Game of Oaths, a brutal tournament watched by the city’s elite. Only one will survive. Last year, Falan’s sister was one of the unlucky eleven. This year, Falan is out for revenge…
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From the moment I read the first chapter, I was hooked. The “Belle Epoque” was a Beautiful era. But only for the chosen ones. The story, set in an Underground Circus, is Heartwrenching and violent. Falan wants to avenge her Sisters death. She pays dirty, it’s the only way. She’s betrayed by the ones she trusted. This is a great book, from the beginning to the end. I hope to read more of S. C. Bandredi’s books in the future.
Bridget, VIC, 5 Stars
I loved the setting and the atmosphere of this book. I was captivated by the feeling of being in a magical circus. The plot was intriguing. A great debut novel and I highly recommend it. Jenny, VIC, 5 Stars
Game of Oaths is everything I love in a book. I had forgotten how much I enjoy a good YA fantasy novel until I ventured into The Game of Oaths. As a big fan of The Hunger Games and anything Fantasy Circus, think The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern or The Circus Train by Amita Parikh, I was excited early on. The Game of Oaths is a page turner, the characters not necessarily endearing and likeable but you get to know them all pretty well, and even though all very unique they just worked in this story. The story keeps you guessing, set on the streets of France in 1896, it swaps between past and present throughout. I was left longing with the love triangle that teased the whole way, I would have liked there to have been a kiss when the romance finally emerged. I highly recommend this book, you will constantly wonder just who you can trust. I feel there may be a sequel which I look forward to. Linda, VIC, 5 Stars
The Game of Oaths is a fantastic tale of revenge and magic, set in Belle Epoque Paris. Twelve circus performers with various magical skills are indentured to a nasty enchanter who puts on an annual, almost gladiatorial, week of “games”, where at least one player is killed each day. (Warning for younger readers – there is a lot of death by stabbing). That warning aside, the games are intriguing and suspenseful. The main character Falan, a trapeze artist and flawed hero, is intent on avenging her sister, who was first to die in the games the year before. The unfolding of the structure of the game and the relationships between the players and their supporters is interesting and strong, and there is a hint of a possible sequel at the end. With echoes of The Hunger Games, this book is sure to be a winner. Kim, VIC, 5 Stars
This is not my usual genre but I did enjoy this book. Fast paced and interesting, it took me a while to piece it all together but once I did, I really enjoyed the book. The characters drew me in and I was very keen to see it to the end. An entertaining tale. Jenny, VIC, 4 Stars
I really enjoyed it and I love the relationship between Falan and Bellamy. I also quite liked the flashbacks, although sometimes I lost track of whether it was the present or past. Evelyn, WA, 4 Stars
A storyline that, on the surface, has similarities to The Hunger Games, but a depth that is further reminiscent of the Paris circus scene of a bygone century, with magic involved of course. Locations are skilfully described, giving the reader the full experience of both the beauty and danger involved, woven with the magic that surrounds it. Costumes are eye-catching and the death-defying events will have you holding your breath.
The cast is large and as varied as you could possibly get, with the main protagonist being Falan, a troubled teenage trapeze artist, hellbent on staying alive to exact her revenge on those that have wronged her. This one had me guessing all along. Trying to guess intentions, secrets, motives and of course, outcomes, but I will admit that there were many well executed twists and turns that like a great magic show, kept me totally entertained, out of my depth, and in a state of shock when it came to the events unfolding at the end.
A remarkable book with a magical storyline that will have you captivated and glad you didn’t get selected to be part of the Game of Oaths. Nerelle, NSW, 4 Stars
A good read. Once getting into the story, it was very hard to put down. A good pace, not too predictable, and the setting was painted well. Being a YA book, I’d recommend it to those who like a “fight for your life” drama but without the extreme gore or darkness. Danae, TAS, 4 Stars
What a cute fun read, kept me reading to find out what would happen. Loved the characters and the plot. It was a fast paced read for me. I enjoyed ever bit of it. Beth, TAS, 4 Stars
The game of oaths was a great debut novel. As soon as I began to read it I was hooked. It reminded me The hunger games as it contained deadly competitions but the setting was a magical circus. I loved the way the circus atmosphere was described throughout the book and the flashbacks throughout the book really set the scene and added to the story overall. A great gothic fantasy that I would highly recommend for a young adult audience! Jacinda, NSW, 3 Stars
The premise behind The Game of Oaths really caught my attention – with great comparison to The Hunger Games and Powerless. It did take me a little bit to get into the book, but with a bit of perseverance I was hooked once the Games officially started! There was suspense, I was rooting for Falan, and I loved seeing the relationships between the characters grow and evolve throughout the book. Alexandra, TAS, 3 Stars
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