Thansk to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I like the general vibe of this book, and the magical world-building was fairly strong. Kellan is an interesting character and I felt the relationshop between her and the love interest was done in a way that avoided too many of the usual cliches. I did feel like some of the backstory around the Dus and what actually happened in the past was missing, but maybe that will be covered in later books.

2.5 stars

Thank you to Harper, Magpie and NetGalley for my digital review copy.

This book had great potential. Unfortunately, the execution was a little disappointing.

I loved the idea of the retrofuturism and art deco vibes and the jazz age and this book could have done so much more.

I know I love books that have good worldbuilding and this book was halfway there. This book has a very interesting magic system (to do with carving runes onto different materials, usually metal, to create things) and it's mentioned that there's different guilds that do different things with this magic to achieve their goals, but I'm not sure how may guilds they are or what they do. We're introduced to the magic system through Kellan (who is described multiple times as "brilliant" in her ability) and whilst her feats with the magic are brilliant, I found that I struggled at times to understand why/how her feats were so spectacular from my limited knowledge of the magic system.

I just felt like there was so much more that could have been achieved by the magic system than what I got.

I also felt like the plot was slightly rushed at times, especially when it came to the trials. I wanted more from them, which I felt like I didn't get.

There was also a romance subplot that I felt had zero chemistry or relationship to it and only existed because there should be a romance element to the plot.

I really wished this hit what I was anticipating from the blurb.

Let me just start by saying, the world building in this book is absolutely breathtaking. I cannot wrap my mind around how utterly flawless it is. That for me is a 5 star alone. I love a book with descriptive writing.

I fell in love with this book, it really wasn’t that hard to be fair. The writing, characters, descriptions and world building made it breathtakingly good. There were points of being able to predict what was coming, but that didn’t falter the story in anyway, and I was still kept entertained regardless of the predictability.

Kellan was the MC, and what a delightful character she was to follow. I couldn’t fault her at all. She drew me in and kept me in a chokehold along with the world building. Honestly, so worth the read. Regardless of the predictability and (to some) the daunting details to try and remember. There was a lot of detail and it you need to keep hold of bits of information to piece together at a later date, but that kept me all the more interested.

I highly recommend this to any fantasy lover.

I really enjoyed this story! Kellan is a wonderful heroine, feisty and loyal. The world building was wonderful and I really enjoyed the magic system. Loved!

A lot of potential here. I really enjoyed the world building but the trials portion of the story fell slightly flat for me.

Rating: 3.5

A decent read, with great descriptions and story potential but a weak execution.

The world building in this book is immense, with vivid descriptions into not only the City of Riz, but into the 'magic' system - carving into metal. Our protagonist is a teenager that shouldn't have the opportunities that she has, but through lots of luck and talent, Mesny offers her a chance at something more.

I loved the mentor/mentee interactions that the two had, it felt a lot more natural, with Mesny really showing that she cares about Kellan, compared to what I felt between Axel/Kellan. The romantic relationship that was slotted in the midst of the plot didn't feel necessary. Perhaps if we had more of a character development into Axel, then I would root for them more.

The weakest, by far, were the trials. Despite being such a big plot point of whether Kellan will/won't get the spot, they aren't the main focus at all. They felt rushed and sidelined by other action/plot lines to progress into the big build up that the author wanted, when I wanted more description, more stress, more information about them.

In the end, the ending didn't feel great either, finishing with a lot of unanswered questions. Perhaps there will be a sequel to unravel the remain mysteries, but ultimately this book didn't feel complete without them.

*I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest reviews**

I really enjoyed this book.
It was a world very different from what I am used to, but the worldbuilding is amazing. The magic in every detail is precious.
Loved Kellan, I always love a strong female in books and she was all I wanted and needed in this book.
The author described so well the places and the things that were happening that I felt that I was inside the book.
An easy and enjoyable reading. Recommed 100%.

This book was very different to what I would normally read. To start with I was a little overwhelmed by the place names and the language and dialect used but I soon got into the book. I ended up reading it in two sittings. It’s a very easy book to read and the character development is enjoyable.

I loved the city of Riz. The descriptions made me able to visualise everything. I loved how Kellen thought herself unworthy because her start in life and how she built relationships with so many people as the book went on. It does have some Hunger Games vibes but I liked the craftsmanship aspect. There is something for everyone in this book. I visualised it as an anime film as I read.

It has drama, adventure, fights, relationships, mortal danger, disaster, and much, much more. I recommend this book to everyone whether you like fantasy, romance, or sci-if I think there is something for everyone in this book.

A massive thank you to Team Magpie and Harper Fiction for inviting me to read this ARC via NetGalley.

I’m not 100% sure what to make of this book and it’s ending, some of the details are a little vague. If there’s another book maybe it would expand on some of the unanswered questions I have.

I loved Kellan, she was inquisitive and intelligent. Her passion for her craft despite how politics held her back was to be admired. Her compassion and loyalty was fierce and it was tested throughout the book.

This story reminded me of The city of ember. The female MC was similar and the way the city is facing something sinister approaching that is changing the environment and how secrets of their leaders are prohibiting their growth and understanding of what’s coming.

All in all it kept me intrigued, I liked the characters and the core of the story. My unanswered questions surround the engineering and the ending, but maybe a reread will highlight things I missed and I would gladly reread this.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. The magical system was unique, the MC had a clear goal and I adored the character dynamics! I just wish that world building was a bit better - sometimes the story would tell us something was important, but not give any background why.

I can't thank NetGalley and the publishers enough for granting me this ARC !

I need time to gather my thoughts to make a long and detailed review but it was a very fun read ! The world-building was very interesting even if sometimes difficult to understand. The writing beautiful,not too fast-paced but not slow. I loved every characters and was drawn in by their personalities.

Very interesting plot and magic system, enjoyed the trials and the engineer guild aspect. Politics in terms of a social system plays a huge part in this book which shows how that can transpire into aspirations and goals.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC. 2.5⭐

This was a world that hooked me quickly with the fantastical futurism and a solid protagonist to follow. We're introduced to Kellan with her own mini heist! It was a great start. I ended up enjoying her dynamics with her idol/mentor Mesny and newfound friends Lou the cab driver and Cyn, who fulfills the role of Grump Who Eventually Warms Up to the Protag. Her uphill journey of proving her raw talent and competence in makecraft (carving magic into metal) to the classist and downright shady members of the Guild despite her origins was an intriguing set up. Kellan's underdog status was also easy to root for given the added motivation of wanting to succeed in attaining a Guild membership so as to afford treatment and a prosthetic for her adopted father Edgar.

Where the story completely lost me was unfortunately the trials themselves. I love a book that deals with trails/competitions, so when it ended up being an overall a dull affair, with uncreative and rather vague challenges, my interest dropped very quickly. I also felt nothing when the kiss with Kellan's romantic interest happened, given how he felt like a flat character and they didn't spend as much time together.

Great potential; weak execution. Didn't work for me, disappointingly.

Was immediately drawn to this book by its beautiful cover, but I was intrigued by the story too.
I really enjoyed the Ancient's Game! It's well written, the world building is done well and gives you a clear vision of the world in your head.
Would love to read more from this author!

Loni Crittenden’s The Ancient’s Game is an exhilarating dive into a dark, fantastical world filled with danger, secrets, and ancient powers. The novel follows its determined protagonist, Evie, as she is thrust into a deadly game where the stakes are nothing less than survival. Crittenden masterfully combines fast-paced action with deep world-building, creating a story that is both thrilling and immersive. Themes of trust, sacrifice, and destiny are intricately woven into the plot, while the twists and surprises keep readers on edge. The Ancient’s Game is a captivating start to a promising fantasy series with a unique, gripping premise.