the crucible – GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Romantasy
Length: 528 pages
Author: Abigail Owen
Publisher: Red Tower
Release Date: October 21st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She has won the games of the gods, can she stand against the titans? Lyra may have survived the Crucible, but now she faces an even more dangerous test – a deadly race against time begins in Tartarus.

The games continue in the thrilling and highly anticipated follow-up to the bestselling romantasy The Games Gods Play. Welcome to Tartarus!

AROUND AND AROUND WE GO.

This is the second sequel I’ve read from Abigail Owen that just did not work. I don’t know how or why this book was 21 hours when it just repeated itself OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. If I hear one more thing about a lock or about how this isn’t the “real” Hades or a conversation surrounding not knowing what year it was I will lose it. BECAUSE SAME.

I’m not sure the plot went anywhere. I’m not sure the romance went anywhere. Being stuck in Tartarus for 500+ pages was a slog. The few small moments I liked did not outweigh my issues.

Will I read the third book? PROBABLY OKAY.

Overall audience notes:

Romantasy
Language: strong
Romance: open door
Violence: high

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 634 pages
Author: Abigail Owen
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower
Release Date: September 3rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Percy Jackson for adults meets The Hunger Games with a slow burn romance between a contestant and Hades himself.

Every hundred years, the gods toy with us mere mortals.
And we let them.

The gods of myth are alive and well.
Once every century, they select a new ruler in a cutthroat competition, pushing mortal players to the limit. But this year, Hades is done sitting on the sidelines. And he’s picking a champion no one expects—in this modern mythic romantasy, she’ll fight for her life…
for the god of Death.

VIBE CHECK.

You know when you’re just here for the vibes? That’s this book. I loved it. I loved the mythology aspects and the competition was nice and brutal. For an 18 hour audiobook I had no time flying through this one. It is engaging and full of good twists and you know what, I’m here for the romance too.

I liked the pacing and all of the side characters. I think some aspects of the action scenes could have had a bigger punch, but I thought all of the different games were interesting and led to good character development for Lyra. She still has a ways to go, but y’all know I love a good arc over the course of an entire series. And I’m wildly obsessed with Hades.

I’ll absolutely pick up the next one. I need to know what happens next.

Overall audience notes: