Join a book club that is reading The Games Gods Play (Standard Edition) (The Crucible, 1)!

Beyond the Margins: Fantasy Book Club

Beyond the Margins is a romantasy book club exploring magical worlds, epic quests, and unforgettable love stories—one book at a time.

Learn More

The Games Gods Play (Standard Edition) (The Crucible, 1)

By Abigail Owen

ADD TO MY SHELVES

Recommend book

THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
HOLT Medallion award winner for Speculative Romance of 2025
Goodreads Choice Awards Romantasy nominee of 2024

“This story is my latest obsession.” —USA Today bestselling author, Devney Perry

The gods love to play with us mere mortals. And every hundred years, we let them…

I have never been favored by the gods. Far from it, thanks to Zeus.

Living as a cursed office clerk for the Order of Thieves, I just keep my head down and hope the capricious beings who rule from Olympus won't notice me. Not an easy feat, given San Francisco is Zeus' patron city, but I make do. I survive. Until the night I tangle with a different god.

The worst god. Hades.

For the first time ever, the ruthless, mercurial King of the Underworld has entered the Crucible—the deadly contest the gods hold to determine a new ruler to sit on the throne of Olympus. But instead of fighting their own battles, the gods name mortals to compete in their stead.

So why in the Underworld did Hades choose me—a sarcastic nobody with a curse on her shoulders—as his champion? And why does my heart trip every time he says I’m his?

I don’t know if I’m a pawn, bait, or something else entirely to this dangerously tempting god. How can I, when he has more secrets than stars in the sky?

Because Hades is playing by his own rules…and Death will win at any cost.

ADD TO MY SHELVES

Recommend book

BUY THE BOOK

Published Sep 3, 2024

592 pages

Average rating: 7.91

151 RATINGS

These clubs recently read this book...

A Court of Books and Brews

Sugar, Spice, and Spells

For the Girls and the Fae

DISCOVER MORE CLUBS

Community Reviews

Write a review...

oOKareenaOo

Feb 22, 2025

9/10 stars

This Hades retelling was not what I expected. That twist at the end was shocking. I can’t wait for book two.

Michalmarie123

Nov 01, 2025

Jill

Storms

Sep 11, 2025

10/10 stars

Love best writing story telling and would definitely read again

BookedOnLife

Aug 11, 2025

8/10 stars

I liked that this was a new take on the “contest to survive / winner takes all” trope. I thought the ending was good and I will definitely be reading book two when it’s released in a few months. There were a few story problem areas for me and some things were a bit too convenient. However, I was invested in the story the entire time despite my minor qualms. I would recommend this as more of a YA read and it’s a good time the entire way through! Buckle up and get ready for a ride!

Desser

Jul 29, 2025

Accessing your Aquawin Casino account has never been easier thanks to the platform's dedicated login portal at https://aquawinlogin-au.com . Whether you're using your smartphone or desktop, the site ensures a seamless entry point with optimized speed and security. Logging in takes just seconds, and once inside, players can explore hundreds of pokies, table games, and even participate in live dealer sessions. For Australian users, the local currency support and familiar payment methods add an extra layer of convenience. The site also allows quick password recovery, which is a big plus for returning users.