The Winged Game
Author: Sophie Kim
Genre: Adult Fantasy, Romantasy, Sports Romance
Format: eARC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.75 stars, rounded up)
Release Date: June 30, 2026
Synopsis
Taissa Cho once had everything.
As one of the brightest stars in carriwitchet - a brutal, rugby-inspired sport played atop magnificent winged creatures, her future seemed limitless. Until one disastrous match ended her career in disgrace.
For the last two years, she's watched from the sidelines while nursing old wounds and blaming the one person she believes destroyed everything: her longtime rival, Kion Locke.
Now, Kion's team is falling apart.
The club is losing, morale is at an all-time low, and its future is uncertain. Desperate to save both the team and the sport he loves, Kion makes the last request anyone expects.
He asks Taissa to return.
But there's a catch.
To help repair the team's reputation and keep Taissa's return a secret until the right moment, they'll have to pretend to be a couple.
As fake dating turns into something much more complicated, a mysterious illness begins spreading among the league's winged creatures, forcing Taissa and Kion to put aside years of resentment to uncover the truth before the sport itself is lost.
My Thoughts
The moment I realized this was a sports romantasy, I was sold.
Sports romance?
Love it.
Romantasy?
Also love it.
Putting both together in one book felt like hitting the literary jackpot.
One of my favorite aspects of The Winged Game was its unique premise. Instead of centering around a magical academy or a royal court, the story revolves around a professional sport that feels like a thrilling blend of rugby, strategy, and fantasy with athletes competing while riding incredible winged creatures.
It immediately gave the world its own distinct identity, and I found myself looking forward to every match.
Taissa and Kion were once fierce rivals, both on and off the field.
Their competition extended beyond the sport itself, with harmless pranks, rumors, and years of trying to outdo one another at every opportunity. That history gives their relationship plenty of tension from the very beginning, even though the story starts long after the event that changed both of their lives.
When Kion catches Taissa cheating during a championship match, her career ends overnight.
At least, that's what he believes happened.
As the story unfolds, it's clear there's much more to that moment than either Kion or the reader initially realizes, and I enjoyed slowly uncovering what really happened.
Their reunion was easily one of my favorite parts of the novel.
Watching Kion reluctantly ask Taissa to return and seeing the two of them navigate a fake relationship for the sake of positive publicity led to some genuinely funny moments. Their banter during the first half of the book was one of the highlights for me, and it was obvious there had always been unresolved feelings hiding beneath years of rivalry.
I also appreciated that once the truth started coming out, the misunderstandings between them weren't dragged out unnecessarily. They actually communicated, something I always enjoy seeing in romance novels.
The fantasy mystery added another layer to the story.
When the league's winged creatures begin falling mysteriously ill during Taissa's first match back, the stakes quickly become much larger than simply winning games. The investigation into the illness kept the plot moving and gave Taissa and Kion a reason to work together beyond the fake-dating setup.
That said, I did have a few small issues.
While I enjoyed the romance, I found myself wishing we'd experienced more of the actual rivals-to-lovers dynamic. Much of their rivalry takes place before the novel begins, so we're mostly hearing about those moments through memories and conversations rather than watching them unfold firsthand.
I also felt the tone shifted during the second half.
The playful banter and witty energy that made the opening chapters so entertaining gradually gave way to the larger mystery, and while I was still invested in the story, I did miss some of that earlier charm.
And finally...
If I never read the word "sweetheart" again for a little while, I'd be perfectly okay.
Final Thoughts
The Winged Game offers a refreshing blend of fantasy, romance, and competitive sports that feels surprisingly unique within the romantasy genre.
Between the thrilling matches, lovable winged creatures, engaging mystery, and entertaining fake-dating romance, there was plenty here to keep me turning the pages.
While I would have loved to see more of Taissa and Kion's rivalry on the page and felt the second half lost a bit of the spark that made the beginning so enjoyable, I still had a great time with this story.
If you're looking for a romantasy that steps outside the usual castles and kingdoms in favor of magical sports, winged beasts, and a couple with plenty of unresolved history, this one is definitely worth checking out.
⭐️ 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4
ARC Disclaimer
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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