The Game of Oaths

Gr 9 Up–In a fantasy set in 1896 France, ­Falan is a member of le Cirque des Ombres, run by Jean-Pierre, who is famous for his ability as an Enchanteur. He brings out the best of anyone’s natural talent by creating a contract with the person, a bond called “le Lien.” He gets high-quality performers, and the performers get the rush that goes along with using their talent while enhanced by an Enchanteur. The performers are a mixed bunch, some from France (­degradingly called Lilies), others from all over the world. All have joined the circus out of desperation. The annual Game of Oaths is usually won by a Lily, but last year an outsider won. ­Falan, an outsider, came by boat from ­India. She found a sister on the ­journey, but ­Lavanya died the previous year at the start of the Game, and Falan is sure she was murdered. She has spent the entire year plotting revenge to deal justice to the Enchanteur. As this year’s Game begins, 12 performers will be pitted against one another in a high-stakes survival-of-the-fittest challenge, and Falan is ready to implement her plan. Bandreddi writes with flair and style, engaging readers with equal parts dialogue, action, and reflection. The pacing moves readers along the journey evenly, leaving open questions that get answered as the plot progresses. Phrases in French populate the book and are worth translating for connotation for those who are not familiar with romance languages. With an intriguing premise and beautifully written, this book is perfect for a teen library.