Thank you Netgalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"The Revenant Games" is a dystopian book remiscient of a magical “The Hunger Games” as it combines dark fantasy, romance, and high-stakes intrigue, making it a must-read for fans of dystopian worlds and deadly competitions.

Set in a world divided between witches, vampires, and humans, the story follows 17-year-old Bly who embarks on a dangerous journey to win back her sister's life after she falls victim to a death curse. The Revenant Games, an annual event where participants compete for powerful wishes granted by either witches or vampires, becomes Bly's battleground as she navigates a complex web of alliances and betrayals.

Fuston's writing is both beautiful and engaging, drawing you into a world filled with desperate characters and moral dilemmas. Bly undergoes a compelling transformation from a dreamer to a hardened manipulator as she fights to achieve her goals. I really enjoyed the characterization and growth of Bly throughout the book. I thought her growth felt authentic, and I found myself liking her more and more as the plot progressed. While the romance in the novel takes a backseat to the larger plot, the dynamic between Bly and the enigmatic vampire prince adds depth to the story. This story does have a love triangle, and I normally hate triangles as they’re usually just filled with unnecessary angst, but I think the development between Bely and the vampire prince brought a new angle to the love triangle.

I did find the worldbuilding to be a bit lacking at times, like how the description of the Games can be confusing and convoluted. Worldbuilding can be such a challenge in YA books, especially ones setting up for a sequel, but there were just some parts of the Games that didn’t make a lot of sense to me.

Overall, "The Revenant Games" is a YA book that will appeal to fans of dark fantasy romance. With its developed characters and high-stakes action, Fuston has crafted a captivating debut that leaves you waiting for more, especially since this book ended in a pretty big cliffhanger.

Margie Fuston is at it again with a really great read, with more vampires. You start off with Bly who has been dreaming of leaving the despairing life of her human village, and longs to take her childhood best friend with her. However, their village is surrounded by deep dark forests that harbors vampires and witches. She convinces her sister to join her in picking mushrooms, and ultimately she ends up getting hit with a sleeping curse and a death curse courtesy of a cursed mushroom that the witches have placed. This leaves Bly with an immense amount of guilt, and she decides to enter what is called the Revenant Games. The games are one in which you must pick a side: Vampires or Witches. By picking the vampires, one can obtain immortality, but if you pick the Witches, you can resurrect someone you've lost. The catch is that you must capture the highest witch or vampire to win the side you're picking prize. Bly was only anticipating on working with the witches to resurrect her sister, until her childhood best friend who she has loved, ends up with a death curse upon him while attempting to help her. Now the plan begins to get complicated. She must enter for both sides to claim both prizes.

This story was chaotic and captivating, and Margie Fuston is one to always give a major twist I didn't see coming. The biggest of these being that it is not a standalone. The characters were well rounded, although I was screaming often at Bly, because what are you doing? This book didn't disappoint, although I'm going to need the conclusion soon!

In this captivating read, the author masterfully weaves a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Through a blend of richly developed characters and a meticulously crafted plot, the book offers a unique exploration of its central themes, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the story's depth and complexity. The narrative is paced perfectly, balancing moments of intense action with thoughtful reflection, ensuring that readers are hooked from the first page to the last. The author's ability to evoke emotion and create a vivid, immersive world is truly remarkable, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for an exceptional literary experience.

Beyond its compelling storyline, the book stands out for its insightful commentary on the human condition, weaving philosophical questions into the fabric of its narrative. The author's skillful use of language not only enriches the text but also elevates the reader's experience, offering new perspectives on familiar themes. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of relationships, the exploration of identity, or the confrontation with ethical dilemmas, this book tackles complex issues with sensitivity and intelligence. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the nuances of life, making it a valuable addition to any book lover's collection. Regardless of genre, this is a work that resonates on multiple levels, affirming the enduring impact of well-crafted literature.

Such an enjoyable book in a fun fantasy world. Bly is a character that readers will connect with. Kerrigan is an intriguing character that you just want to figure out, especially why he is willing to die. And the chemistry between Bly and Kerrigan is palpable. I loved that the ending isn’t quite happily ever after. I spent the book unable to decide whether I thought witches or vampires were worse. But also loving the glimpses at the good guys on each side. I can’t wait to see what happens next for these characters.

3.5 stars

Bly lives in a human village trapped between witches and vampires. For most of the year, they live in a peaceful truce. But during The Revenant Games, anything can happen. Humans can play for either side. The witches promise to resurrect someone from the dead for anyone who captures the highest ranking vampire. The vampires promise immortality to whoever captures the highest ranking witch..

A year ago, Bly’s sister died. Now, she’s determined to play the Games and win in order to bring her sister back. But when her best friend, Emerson, suddenly finds himself with a death curse, Bly finds herself in an impossible situation. How can she save them both?

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of The Revenant Games to review! If you like dark fantasy romance sort of like The Cruel Prince (but without the Fae), I think this will be up your alley! Especially if you like a little bit of The Hunger Games thrown in.

I’m going to put this early in the review because I thought this was a standalone. Here is your warning that it is not. This book actually ends on a pretty big cliffhanger, so it’s at least going to be a duology. At least, it better be. There’s no way the book would just end there.

At the beginning, I struggled a bit with the world building because it didn’t quite feel clear what was going on. Especially when it came to the requirement for the actual Games. As you read further, the plot starts to get clearer, but I wished that some of those details were a bit more fleshed out at the beginning.

For the most part, the characters were all pretty well developed, even if they weren’t always the most likable. There is kind of a love triangle that goes on here, though not as much drama as a Twilight love triangle. It’s more of love triangle in the sense that Bly was attracted to the same guy for a long time and isn’t necessarily ready to be attracted to someone else. Even though she is. Maybe this will play out more in another book!

All in all, if you like dark fantasy romance with detail packed worlds, this will definitely be up your alley. Check it out when it comes out in March!

“The Revenant Games” is a nostalgic young adult return to dystopian worlds, heroines in love triangles, and deadly games, with a pedigree that’s smack in the middle of The Hunger Games and Twilight. Entertaining, overwrought, and incredibly info-dumpy in its front half, “The Revenant Games” features Bly, angry and grieving, who gets caught up in a war between eeeeevil witches and eeeeevil vampires. The eeeeevil witches and eeeeevil vampires have an annual event every year in which the victor gets a powerful wish granted, and Bly enters it in a desperate bid to protect her love interest and her to bring back her dead sister. But also, everyone’s really attractive! Even a certain vampire prince on the opposing side. What’s a girl to do?

This book was not written for me, as I’m snarky and crotchety, but honestly, its earnestness is refreshing: I’m kind of over books marketed as “young adult” that clearly are trying to get in on that sweet, sweet adult romantasy money. Bly is a teenager in every affect – impulsive, stubborn, and mercurial in her affections and moods. Romance is surprisingly beside-the-point in this one; while Bly has a love triangle happening, it’s pretty much taking a back seat to staying alive and out-maneuvering other players in the Revenant Games. This book is absolutely the set up to a series, as it ended on QUITE the cliffhanger sure to horrify readers seeking answers. While I didn’t exactly love this book, I’m glad it exists – it’s fun, Bly is a well-written heroine, and it was truly delightful feeling like I was reading some 2006 novel that hadn’t been discovered.