The Game of Oaths — S.C. Bandreddi

In this heart-pounding fantasy, young trapeze artist Falan fights to win a deadly tournament set amid the glamour and illusions of a magical circus. But she needs more than to survive—she wants revenge. Seventeen-year-old Falan performs with the Cirque des Ombres, Paris’s famous magical circus, led by ringmaster and enchanteur Jean-Pierre. But behind the dazzling spectacles, the circus performers are bound by enchanted contracts—which also make them potential contestants in the Game of Oaths, a secret bloodthirsty tournament watched by the wealthy elite. Twelve will compete. Eleven will die. Last year, Falan’s sister was one of the unlucky eleven. This year, Falan has been chosen—and she’s out for revenge against Jean-Pierre and the whole brutal system. She’s not above playing dirty and forging unlikely alliances. But whom can she rely on? Her circus roommates, who are contestants themselves, or Bellamy, a young thief who preys on the bourgeoisie? What about Ronan, her trapeze partner? They trust each other in the air, but on the ground, they have never clicked. Falan must depend on her gut, her wits, and her aim if she is to have any hope of success, for in games like this, the house always wins. A richly imagined, thrilling fantasy set during the lush Belle Epoque.