The Messenger rocked your world, and now she’s back. But have her lies finally caught up with her? Trust doesn’t come easy for Kesh Lasota. She survived life as a slave, survived the Dreamweaver’s touch, but surviving Marshal Kellee and the mysterious Talen is a whole other game, one she’s not sure she’s ready for. When the three are captured by a bloodthirsty fae general sweeping through the … fae general sweeping through the last of Halow’s human colonies, the only weapons they have left are lies. And so Kesh must pretend to be the gladiator they all expect, while Kellee is forced to fight against her, and Talen is… Well, just who is Talen when he can command soldiers with a glance and move among the fae elite as though he belongs?
Trust doesn’t come easy for Kesh Lasota, neither does love. She must survive both, or everything she’s fought for will be lost forever, including her men.
The enchanting & mind-blowing Messenger series continues with more action, more romance, and more exciting twists!
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Enter this world at your own risk, for once in you will not want to leave
Pippa DaCosta has an extraordinary skill for building strange and wondrous new worlds. Add to that her unfailing ability to imbue such life into her characters that they become your friends, and you have a truly magnificent story. The twists and turns of Shoot the Messenger had me spellbound but I knew without a shadow of a doubt that Game of Lies would build upon that foundation and journey me to places I never even suspected could exist. And oh what a fantastical journey it is.
You really need to have read Book 1 of the Messenger Chronicles to fully understand and appreciate this part of the story. The book picks up virtually where Shoot the Messenger finished, with Kesh, Kellee and Talon aiding an escape attempt by the humans who had survived the Fae massacre of Halow. Of course where there’s Fae, there’s usually Kesh, and where she goes trouble follows.
I can’t put into words how much I loved this book. I had some reading commitments but kept finding myself sneaking back to this so that I could read some more of it. It’s truly addictive, with plot twists that put a high speed roller coaster to shame. I squealed with glee at having correctly suspected the return of one character, normally being able to guess makes the book feel predictable but the panache and plot pirouettes that the author uses just added another layer of depth and intrigue to the story. The move this character took near the end of the book broke my heart just as much as it did Kesh’s, though I don’t doubt that there are reasons and solutions to this set of events.
This is one of those books where it’s difficult to say anything without giving away spoilers, but I can tell you how amazing the interactions between Kesh and Talon are and how moody and intense
are the scenes between Kesh and Kellee. Oh and Talon in that bath, I admire Kesh’s self control, I don’t think I would have resisted the temptations on offer. I love how as one secret is revealed another mystery blows in, as one problem is solved another emerges to torment Kesh. I loved how Kesh started to believe in herself and her emerging ability to trust others. I’m sure there will be plenty more agony and confusion for Kesh before the truth emerges and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Despite being a reverse harem the story has a minimal amount of sexual content, I can’t say I noticed any bad language either. That said it still felt pretty steamy at times and is definitely more ‘lust inducing’ than other work by this author, though I’ve always had a soft spot for Caleb. I recommend this to anyone who wants a really spell-binding story to read and doesn’t mind it being part of a series.
A continuation as good as the first book
Sweeping in on its own and marking it as good as the first book in the series. Beautiful and vibrant in its story and worlds. Character so intriguing and beguiling that they draw you in further. Book 3 here I come with high expectations.
This review may contain SPOILERS.
The absolutely awesome thing about this series is that it draws you in. I am absolutely obsessed! What first drew me into this story was the concept. I love the idea of sending fantasy and science fiction out on a date because that love has created the most damned beautiful celebrity babies. The meshing of the genres is truly magnificent, and DaCosta manages to nail it.
The world that DaCosta has created is magical and inventive. I love that both genres are present in the world-building. And not only that, but they blend together seamlessly. The world-building is not limited to places though. This book is drenched in secrets and deception and you can smell it and breath it throughout the entire book like it’s air.
What I love about the plotting in this series is that it is so unpredictable. The plot twists are brilliant and you will not see them coming even with the foreshadowing. It is truly an art form to be this skilled in plotting stories. This series doesn’t follow typical book tropes either. It plays by its own rules and comes out on top. There is plenty of action and the pacing is perfect. The storytelling is so powerful and beautiful.
These characters are so vibrant. They all have their own secrets and pasts and they keep themselves closed off. They just feel so real. These characters aren’t fluffy and shiny. These characters are messy, flawed, traumatized, and altogether rough around the edges. I like that these characters dance around morality in varying degrees. They are not black and white and they act according to their own truths. Most of these characters have experienced extreme trauma in their lives and it comes across in their characterization. While there is a lot about these characters that is a mystery, I really felt like I knew them.
The romance gets kicked up a notch in this book of the series, though a small notch. Kesh is growing closer to Talen and Kellee, but things are still pretty much in the air. No one has made any declarations, but it is clear that feelings are there. And since this is a reverse harem book, I am utterly curious to know who is going to be a love interest in the end. The sexual tension is tantalizing and the feelings that the characters have towards each other are both exciting and frightening.
Overall, this was a fantastic sophomore novel to Shoot the Messenger! I am totally engrossed in this world and these characters have taken over my brain. Anyone that loves fantasy and science fiction will adore this series!
I’m so caught up in every character’s lie that I don’t know who’s not lying anymore. I think I won’t survive this game. I know I can’t. I’m too idiotic and too slow to play catch-up…but enough of me because HOLY WOW. I can’t believe I have made it through this read. What a ride!
Kesh…I admit Kesh is proving it hard for everyone to connect to her, to empathize with her. I do have a difficult time but ultimately my heart breaks for her. Her whole life is just so full of lies, she’s so full of lies that I think she herself is having a hard time differentiating the lies from the truth. What I will never, ever, do is judge her for it, though. I personally see she’s now more determined to get out of her previous life; she truly means it when she says that she’s with them. But of course, her past actions are catching up to her so she has to deal with the consequences-the men in her life not being able to do anything but to not trust her. Yet. Hopefully, it won’t take them forever.
What I hope and ask for is the men’s patience, more patience, if they are really in it for Kesh, too. She’s been alone and she’s been surviving through it all that her solitary walls are blinding her to the help and support these men are trying to show her. She just doesn’t know anything else. She’s not good at being a member of a team, of a group. Again, I hope the men can show her the ropes.
Overall, I love this read. I have thought book 1 is a mindfudge. Well, color me wrong. This is a literary embodiment of lies on top of lies on top of lies. Of twists and of games.
S/o to my fellow readers who willingly throw their emotional state on the shipwreck/trainwreck that is this read. And s/o to the author who is so freaking creative and evil-two words that shouldn’t ever be in one sentence or else you’re fudged. I mean, I am fudged. Thoroughly. Sheeesh. Gdi
I received Game of Lies as an Arc, from the Author for an honest review.
This is the second instalment in the Messenger series,book one is Shoot the Messenger, recommended reading first if you haven’t done so yet, you’ll love it.
Trying to write a review without spoilers is hard, as if you haven’t read the first book, there’s spoilers in the second, and saying anything about the second also has spoilers.
This is not your typical reverse harem book, with all the sex scenes, this is more about the relationship between Kesh and her handsome Vakaru, kellie, and Talen, her equally handsome Fae.
The very unlikely trio are hiding out on a rock, away from the cruel and injust, but very beautiful Fae
The fae have created many beautiful beings, some good, some bad, but all do their biddings for the fae, none are free to do as they wish, most are puppets for them to play and toy with. You will find that there is something about Kesh Lasota, the saru gladiator, the queen of lies and destruction, seems to draw the unexpected to her,trusting her could be foolish, and many seem to. Expect lots of twists, gob smack in the mouth moments, frustration, most emotions you can think of, reading this.
The plot is fantastic. A must read. Kesh can be lovable and hateable all at the same time.So can her friends. Now waiting to read number three, hurry up Pippa.
How do I convince anyone to read a book as amazing as this one with filling it with spoilers? It has been a long time since I so immediately cared about characters the way I do with Kesh, Talen, Kellee, and lets call him A. I think the last characters to move me so completely we’re Kate, Curran and their family (Ilona Andrews).
Kesh has so committed herself to protecting Kellee and Talen and those resilient humans left on Hallow. The Kesh of the first book still peeks through, scared to trust because if anyone knows betrayal so completely it is Kesh.
It is fascinating to learn the origins of Talen and Kelle’s Relationship and the way the dynamics between them ebb and flow. Talen’s History and why he doesn’t want to return to Faerie (not telling!)
The Champion (A) being introduced is the most heart wrenching part of book 2, I’ve never hated starfruit so much in my life as I sat crying in a restaurant in Albany…
TLDR: Read this book, it is just as amazing as the first one. If you didn’t like the first go back and read it again!
Disclosure- I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for a review (and because Pippa DaCosta is awesome and it was my birthday last week) but I also paid for a copy because I love it and wanted to support the series!!
I just finished the book and had to immediately write this review so I could write down my impressions while they are still fresh. The first one is: how the hell can we go forward from that end!? I’ll never look at (can’t say the word because spoiler) the same way again! The second thing is: I can’t understand why I love this author so much when she completely twists my heart, emotions, expectations, etc. into gargantuan knots! I did see one of the twists (and only one) coming, but I just loved it. We do get a more deepening relationship with the characters, and more secrets are hinted at, even while some secrets are revealed. As a word of warning, do not ever approach a book by this author if you are thinking hearts, wine, and roses because you won’t get them. What you will get is a wonderfully-written book full of heartbreak and despair, and just when you think things are at their darkest, a ray of light will shine…and then more darkness. However, through it all, you know that the characters will get their own unique happy ending, and you will rejoice. This was a great addition to the series, and I can’t wait for the next one. I highly recommend this with no hesitation whatsoever. I was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.
In this book , the story picks up where Shoot The Messenger ended. Trust is still an issue between Kesh, Talon, and Kellee. Along with trust comes the word lies and Kesh can do it quite well but lack of info is just as close to lying. The three will experience the past come to haunt them and some of the things are surprises for them and you! Yes, there is lots of things going on but be expected to realize that some of the hints of things to come are there in the story. The surprises for me were the ending of one of the subplots and the plans for future. Oberon is expected to react the way he does but he is in for an awaking. Will Kesh be able to ignore the conditioning she has endured in the past? Will this conditioning disrupt future plans to help the saru?
Action, yes and lots of it! A bit of humor, at least for me there was. Now the romance of Kesh and who, well that is the question! I know what I would like to happen and I am sure the reader will form their own opinion. But Pippa, you have some very very interesting story lines for the romance parts. Keep up the excellent writing!
Do I recommend this book, that is a big YES!!!! I think if you did not read the first book you will be missing lots of information. Read and enjoy! I started the book Friday and when I woke up at 3am Saturday morning I read until I fell asleep. Such a vicious cycle for me because it happened again Sunday, morning. I really hate to put down such an interesting excellent book!
This was one heck of a story, every time you thought you had it figured out, it twisted everything on its head! It’s exhilarating, confusing, and mysterious all at the same time (and with no warning!). This book left more questions than answers, which leaves you hollering that you need to know what happens next!!!! Seems like a happily ever after is a carrot being dangled and yanked away from everyone involved, hopefully SOMETHING good happens in the next book!! Pippa is a genius of the written word, I can’t believe the worlds she’s able to create seemingly out of thin air! Extraordinarily well done, and thank you for the opportunity to review this work of art!
I’m struggling to find words that adequately describe how much I love this newest series from Ms DaCosta. The world building, the characters, the story, the lies, the untrustworthy narrator – it’s just fantastic.
Shoot the Messenger was a fantastic series opener, and Game of Lies carries straight on – no holds barred.
Kesh, still heavily under the influence of Eledan, has to make her way with Talen and Marshal Kellee through new enemies and old. There is violence and sex and fae trickery galore. Their chances of survival seem bleak – and oh my, you need to buy this book so you can find out, because EVERYTHING else I could say is going to spoil it for you.
I did it! I finally figured out a Pippa twist ahead of the time! I still can’t believe it *beams*
I’m a bit at a loss to review “Game of Lies” without spoiling “Shoot the Messenger”. It’s so interconnected you might need to reread the first book to be sure not to miss anything. You also need to keep an open mind and not expect an orgy just because it’s a reverse harem book. I actually like the slow burn. One of the things I dislike in the genre is the lack of relationship buildup. In “Game of Lies” Kesh, Kellee and Talen’s relationship evolves in a natural yet very beautiful way. And as a result of that natural progress Kesh changes as well. Becomes someone much more likeable.
The plotline I enjoyed most had to do with Talen. We learned a lot more about what type of Fae he is and throughout it all I felt giddy because it reminded me of Farscape – the TV show I learned English from. Every time the warcruiser showed up I pictured Moya. I know it doesn’t look like that but in my mind that’s how it looks. I enjoyed the descriptions of the single-pilot spawns and I wanted to go and pet them. All of the Fae biological slaves are fascinating and I can’t wait to learn more about them.
The plot twist I managed to figure out ahead of time has to do with the third member of Kesh’s harem and I feel oddly proud of that fact. I not only figured out who he is but also what he did in the end. However, I have no clue how it will progress from now on and the wait will kill me.
I said in the beginning not to expect an orgy but that doesn’t mean there weren’t some scorching hot scenes. As usual with Pippa DaCosta they’re not your typical sex scenes and there was a particular one that made my jaw drop because it developed in a very different way than the one I expected. It just got me hot and bothered and BAM! I really didn’t see that one coming! I really feel bad for Kellee for having to deal with the outcome. Actually from all of the males in her life II sympathize with Kellee the most. He’s also the one who annoys me the most. Still I love him just like I love all the frustrating males Pippa writes.
ARC graciously provided by the author in exchange of honest review. This in no way affects my rating or review.