The Winged Game is Sports Romantasy

Sophie Kim, the author of beloved The God and the Gumiho duology, returns with her always entertaining type of romantasy, but making it sporty with a game of her own creation using winged beasts, reminiscent of Quidditch and capture-the-flag. Read my 4-star review below:

Taissa Cho was carriwitchet's — the violent game played upon winged beasts — most promising player until her bitter rival, Kion Locke, destroyed her career. Two years later, Kion offers her the chance to play again so he can save his team. She agrees even with the clause to fake-date each other for positive PR! The sport is then plagued by a peculiar illness that affects the Wingeds. As they work together to solve the mystery, their relationship starts to change...

Pretending to date, rivals to lovers and grumpy arrogant ass X grumpy disgruntled sassypants, the whole situation will have you rubbing your hands together in anticipation of the deliciousness to come. I cracked up so often, my heart swelling with glee. Thanks to the author's incredible ability to weave not only an appetizing but also an overflowing with discovery of emotion narrative, this story is so much more in its savory depth and richness.

It is set in a wonderful, whimsy-driven modern-day alternate United Kingdom where magic & creatures are part of our characters' everyday life and it is so fun experiencing this world through the gaze and wit of our two main antagonists. We feel like it actually exists, like we are actually there. Her wild current of creativity whisks us away with its inviting details and the sprinkling of different mythologies and lores compiles a satiating dessert of a magical system. The game is like a capture-the-flag Quidditch, showcasing rugby vibes and using Shadowhunter-like magic. I like the tradition of the riddle before the game, but not the name, Carriwitchet, sorry. But I did love the Wingeds. Cronus is all the money, so are Cato and Sansa.

A sly, cheeky humor threads through the narrative. The characters' musings are entertaining in their enveloping intimacy and sharp honesty. And they have elevated insult-slinging, antagonizing and embarrassing one another into an art. We know that Kim excels at writing these. Like, we know she can make us feel a lot, even with just one sentence.

Taissa & Kion share a temper and their endearing stubbornness. I really like how clueless they are about each other. The evolution of their relationship is delightsome but also moving. As is the rebuilding of the team, with expected and unexpected pitfalls. We experience the hardship of an unwanted outsider. Their wounds are of a different nature, but they both are hurting. The book succeeds in sharing all that beautifully and at times is absolutely heart-wrenching. And the cherry on top is the mystery of the Winged's strange illness. The author succeeds in juggling all the plot lines without losing a beat.

I did feel a bit stupid because of all the talk about it, I really didn't understand how Carriwitchet was played as much as I would have liked. Also, I needed a bit more weight to the mystery and less to the slapstick feel mishaps, as much as they made me laugh. The photos thing (you'll know when you read it) was a gag too far for me. Not because of prudeness — their smexy innuendos were a personal fave — it's just too coarse for this story IMO. There is also, should I call it editing weirdness, where the parentheses game got way out of hand.

This story is about perseverance and loyalty. About being able to put your trust in others and learning not to judge based on preconceptions. How a bond can break anything. A reduced-to-underdog, fighting-the-odds comeback story that resonates with relatability. The kind that makes you want to cheer and punch your fist in the air. And an enchanting sports romantasy like no other.