Game of Oaths: (A YA Historical Fantasy about a Magical Circus, Deadly Tournament, and Revenge)

Description: "Utterly captivating." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

In this heart-pounding, richly imagined fantasy set in the Belle Époque, a trapeze artist fights to win a deadly tournament amid the glamour and illusions of a magical circus. But survival isn't her only goal--she wants revenge.

It's 1896. Beneath a hotel in the heart of Paris is the famed le Cirque des Ombres, led by ringmaster and Enchanteur Jean-Pierre. But behind the dazzling spectacles, the circus performers are bound by magical contracts, also making them potential players in the annual Game of Oaths, an underground bloodthirsty tournament watched by the wealthy elite. Twelve will compete. Eleven will die.
Seventeen-year-old trapeze artist Falan Sunkara is out for revenge. After her sister ended up as one of the unlucky eleven last year, Falan wants nothing more than to make Jean-Pierre pay for her death. When she's chosen to compete in this year's tournament, Falan is not above playing dirty and forging unlikely alliances. But to be the last one standing, she has to determine whom to trust and whose motives to question. Vengeance on top of survival is a dangerous gamble--and in games like this, the house always wins.

Review Quotes: Bandreddi's debut, which features a diverse cast, is an impressive addition to its genre, enlivened with miraculous thrills and savagely unpredictable twists that will keep readers guessing. The author explores themes of allyship, survival, and colonization in this work that will appeal to fans of Squid Game and The Hunger Games. Utterly captivating.
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

The relationship between la lien, class, and colonialism is seamlessly acknowledged and appropriately credited for much of the carnage of the Game. However, Falan is not cleared of responsibility for her actions and she is truly ruthless in a way that will especially delight fans of Black's The Cruel Prince (2018). The tension is set high throughout the story, with third-person POV playing a critical and engaging role in escalating the feelings of uncertainty in Falan's goal to survive.
--Booklist (starred review)

This intricately built and darkly sumptuous story of vengeance and liberation will appeal to fans of Roshani Chokshi's The Gilded Wolves.
--Publishers Weekly

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. . . . With an intriguing premise and beautifully written, this book is perfect for a teen library.
--School Library Journal

The packed plot doesn't shy away from brutal action, delivering on the festival's promised deadly stakes and the competitors' complex relationships, and the pace effectively draws the reader in. . . . While the grim atmosphere feels dystopian, the alternate Parisian Belle Epoque setting blends just the right amount of fantasy with French language and cultural elements to transport yet not alienate readers. . . . [An] engrossing glimpse of sensationalizing talent for survival.
--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

The Game of Oaths is a captivating and brutal tale of magic and revenge that will leave you entranced, enchanted, and unable to do anything but turn the next page. Absolutely brimming with heart.
--Ann Sei Lin, author of Rebel Skies

Riveting. Breathtaking. The sharp thrill of a deadly game mixed with the alluring spectacle of dark magic, and a cast of characters so fiercely vivid they had me in a choke hold from the first page.
--D. L. Taylor, author of The Beasts We Bury