Acid-spitting monsters. Deadly visions. And a man and a dragon willing to sacrifice everything to keep a reluctant Fate alive….When monsters attack Rysa Torres, her latent Fate abilities activate — and drop her headfirst into a world of future-seers, shifters, and dragons. Rysa’s escalating visions reveal a shattered future engulfed in flame. Other powerful Fates see the same ignited future — … same ignited future — Fates who think the only way to stop the coming apocalypse is to kill the man and the dragon who might be the planet’s only salvation. The same Ladon and his companion Dragon who, when they find the newly-activated, terrified Rysa, quickly realize she’s not only the key to saving the world, but their own broken, lonely souls….
Readers say the depth and world building of the Dragonriders of Pern meets the heroic heart of Mercy Thompson in the explosive, genre-bending World on Fire universe. Dive into this world where Science Fiction blends with Urban Fantasy and immerse yourself with dragons, immortal warriors, family, love… and unknown science so advanced it’s indistinguishable from magic.
NOTE: This newly re-edited and improved edition of Games of Fate contains new interior editing and formatting, plus story updates.
Fate Fire Shifter Dragon: World on Fire Series One
Games of Fate
Flux of Skin
Fifth of Blood
Bonds Broken & Silent
All But Human
Men and Beasts
The Burning World
more
Good fantasy book.
When I picked up Games of Fate, I knew nothing about Fates, Shifters, or Burners, or how in the world an ADHD heroine could work in a paranormal fantasy. I was immediately drawn into the richly-layered and complex world of FFSD, and I soon realized that Ms. Radcliffe had created a very real, flawed, relatable heroine – and a whole host of real, flawed, relatable characters to surround her.
At its very base, the plot might seem familiar: normal human woman undergoes a transformation into a “superhero;” flawed hero with his trusty sidekick needs to be “rescued” from his dark side; newly-powerful heroine saves the day—and the hero. However, the world Radcliffe has created to flesh out this idea is new and breathtaking. Rysa with her ADHD is hardly your normal heroine, and her struggles and woundedness give her character depth and honesty. Ladon carries a world-weariness that you can almost feel, while Dragon and his blend of ageless wisdom and puppyish enthusiasm make you smile. Even the villains are multi-dimensional: the Burners are brilliantly-realized and cringeworthy, while the different “sounds” of the Fate seers can communicate much about the Fates themselves. Their arrogance is unbounded, and yet you realize how much they are trapped by their own gifts.
The love story is wonderful, and Radcliffe certainly knows how to write a love scene! I loved the development and growth of the relationship between Ladon and Rysa—their honest passion, their commitment to (and fears for) each other. And watching Dragon fall in love with Rysa was a joy.
Oh, and speaking of Dragon … I’ve read a lot of dragon books. I teethed on Anne McCaffrey’s Pern series, among others. But Radcliffe’s addition to the draconic lore is wonderful. Their “mimicking” abilities, their fondness for orange food (I really need to find Cara Caras!), their six-fingered “hands” and retractable talons are fascinating. The energy flow between Dragon and Human, and the idea that the psychic bond between them has the physical effect of elastic that can only stretch so far, are new and unique. I love the fact that, like Pern’s dragons, Brother and Sister Dragon are real characters with quirks, eccentricities, affections, and dislikes.
One critique I’ve seen, and I can understand it, is that the reader is dropped into the action quickly and early, without any background or preparation, and has to figure out what’s going on. Rysa’s ADHD can also create the sensation that the viewpoint is fractured, which can be daunting. But as I read (and re-read) this book, I realized that that’s an important part of the experience. Rysa has no knowledge or understanding of the world into which she’s been dropped, and is having to view this brand-new world through the lens of her attention issues. We, as the readers, are experiencing it along with her—discovering the truth of her heritage and this new and terrifying world, piece by piece and moment by moment. Seeing it through her eyes, ADHD and all, makes the moment when we understand what’s happening feel like a triumph; like we, along with her, finally understand and have the knowledge we need to win the battle. We are invested in Rysa and in her story, and it makes the whole read more rewarding.
The more I read of Kris Austen Radcliffe’s work the more I want! Games of Fate is no different. While some may struggle with the fast onset of action and be confused as to what is going on at the beginning of the story, I found that this was more to the reader’s advantage to help you understand what it is like through the main heroine Rysa’s eyes and experience having ADHD. If you hang in I believe the story all comes together explaining itself and is well worth reading again and again. I loved the real-world relatability of a character with ADHD, something unique, as well as the “Burners” to the Fate, Fire, Shifter, Dragon world.
The book begins with Rysa finding out she is part of what are called Fates and her activating, or coming into her abilities, while being attacked by these Burners. In rushes Ladon and his Dragon whom are 23 centuries old and linked together, only being able to be a certain distance apart, to reluctantly save her. I’m not a fan of rushed romances, but Radcliffe writes in such a way that even I enjoyed reading the chemistry and tension unfold between Ladon and Rysa as well as how protective and compassionate Dragon is towards her, perhaps even falling for her first before Ladon was ready to.
There is so much more to the story, but I don’t want to give away any spoilers. There is a LOT going on, and some unexpected surprises as well. It will keep you on your toes, or well, at least turning the pages just to see what happens next!
I highly recommend this book as it is non-stop action with a great sense of humour and romance thrown in. If you are a fan of urban fantasy and dragons (especially the Dragonriders of Pern series) you will not be disappointed. Radcliffe writes with a unique perspective on dragons, creating a multi-layered world uniquely her own, characters that are multi-faceted, deep, and well-developed villain and hero alike, or even if they seem minor to the plot. I can’t wait to start on Book 2!