Lou’s Review: A Game of Deceit and Desire, by Ruby Roe

I don’t know how Sacha Black – AKA Ruby Roe – manages to keep writing books that feel absolutely effortless to read, but I’m intensely grateful that she does. With A Game of Deceit and Desire being the third and final instalment of her Girl Games trilogy, I’m coming to view that supreme readability as a hallmark of her work. And it couldn’t have come at a better time. During NaNoWriMo (the challenge of writing 50,000 words of a novel in November) I was looking for books that gave me energy rather than depleting it. And this spicy romantasy was one hell of a tonic.

Remy Reid shot to fame after her intricate lattice magic was used to incarcerate criminal mastermind Roman Oleg. But Remy isn’t a legacy magician and, in spite of her accomplishments, she still feels like an imposter. The Runic Games are the perfect chance to prove her worth, and claim a powerful position at court. But Remy’s paired with her old nemesis Bella Blythe, a gifted mage from one of New Imperium’s oldest families. She’s Roman’s former apprentice – and the number one suspect in attempts to break him free. And though the attraction between these two rivals is irresistible, trust is much harder to build.

The competition itself is fascinating. Roe has created a truly innovative system of magic for the Girl Games trilogy, fusing ancient magic and modern technology to make something extraordinary. And that’s never more apparent than in A Game of Deceit and Desire, during the Runic Games. There’s an incredible cinematic quality to this book, never more vivid than when Remy and Bella are casting runes, moving their avatars through a digital dimension. And if I could see any sapphic romance from 2023 adapted for screen, it would have to be this one.

That said, there are moments when the magic becomes difficult to follow. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m clueless about all things STEM, or Roe chose to avoid exposition for the sake of maintaining tight pacing, but there were times when I didn’t entirely understand what was happening – how and why our heroines were able to use their magic in certain ways. During the third act in particular, more clarity would have enhanced reader satisfaction. I’d have been way more impressed by Remy and Bella’s final collaboration if I’d grasped the mechanics of their magic, and why the cost was so high.

Still, this book is an excellent read. The stakes couldn’t be higher with the competition. Remy needs this win to prove she isn’t a one trick wonder, and Bella’s overbearing mother threatens to marry her off to a man should she bring any further disgrace on the family name. Which, as there can only be one winner, leads to serious friction between our leading ladies. Roe absolutely shines at Rivals-to-Lovers, creating intoxicating chemistry between her leading ladies.

The relationship between these two central characters is nothing of delicious. I was utterly invested in their connection, which is exactly how it should be with romance. Roe had me on the edge of my seat watching these two women overcome layers of suspicion, prejudice, and lies to realise the truth that has been staring them in the face since day one: they belong together.

And the smut. Holy shit, the smut. I adore the butch/femme dynamic between Remy and Bella, cemented firmly by some out of this world strap action. But what really makes this book memorable is the painstaking building of trust between them. I don’t know if there’s a word to describe romances that are sexually spicy from the start but emotional slow burns – traditionally, the genre has gone for the other way around. But the Rebel Author Podcast host has never been afraid to go her own way, and her work is all the stronger for it.

If like me you’re sad about the Girl Games trilogy coming to an end, fear not! Roe teases the protagonist for her next romance as a side character: Bella’s best friend, a vampire hunter by the name of Red. I’m fascinated by her powers, and so ready to dive into the magic and politics of Sangui City. Though to be honest I’m going to read every single romance that Roe writes even without having to know the specifics beforehand.

Review for Book 1: A Game of Hearts and Heists

Review for Book 2: A Game of Romance and Ruin

Copy received from the author in exchange for a fair review.