Books like 'The Games Gods Play'
Readers who enjoyed The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary fantasy paranormal young adult new adult survival m-f sassy heroine independent heroine magic
-
The Assassin and the Empire by Sarah J. Maas
Celaena Sardothien is the assassin with everything: a place to call her own, the love of handsome Sam, and, best of all, freedom. Yet, she won’t be truly free until she is far away from her old master, Arobynn Hamel; Celaena must take one last daring assignment that will liberate her forever. But having it all, means you have a lot to lose . . -
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
"A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached. It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend. ". From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown... -
Sponsored links / Remove ads
-
Persuasion by Jane Washington, Jaymin Eve
Willa Knight: Dweller? Bad-ass? Notorious pet to five magical beings? In Blesswood, there are rules, and someone is trying to teach her how to follow them. The only problem is Willa. Which shouldn’t be anything new, since she has been a problem since birth—something her pseudo-sister Emmy would agree on. So it definitely shouldn’t be new … but it is... -
InuYasha, Vol. 1: Turning Back Time by Rumiko Takahashi
Transported back to Japan's feudal era, high school student Kagome accidentally releases the feral half-demon dog boy Inu-Yasha from his imprisonment for stealing the Jewel of Four Souls.Categorized as:
magic other-man-woman m-f angst sassy heroine cold hero strong heroine possessive hero -
-
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
Years ago, a reclusive mega-bestselling children’s author quit writing under mysterious circumstances. Suddenly he resurfaces with a brand-new book and a one-of-a-kind competition, offering a prize that will change the winner’s life in this absorbing and whimsical novel. “Clever, dark, and hopeful . . -
Deadly Little Voices by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 32 ratingsHigh school junior Camelia thought her powers of psychometry only gave her the ability to sense the future through touch. But now she’s started to hear voices. Mean voices. Berating her, telling her how ugly she is, and that she’d be better off dead...Categorized as:
magic suspense other-man-woman contemporary fantasy mystery young adult love triangle -
The Silence of Medair by Andrea K. Höst
Time stole victory. Medair an Rynstar returned too late to drive back the Ibisian invasion. Centuries too late. When friend and enemy have become the same thing, what use are the weapons Medair planned to use to protect her Empire? There is no magic, no artefact, no enchanted trinket which can undo the past... -
Beauty and the Beast by K.M. Shea
Once upon a time Elle made a mistake. A small miscalculation sends her through the roof of an enchanted chateau. Stranded until her broken leg mends, Elle is forced to rely on the good will of the sour chateau owner —the cursed Prince Severin... -
Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits, Vol. 2 by Waco Ioka, Waco Ioka
Aoi’s having no luck finding a job at the Tenjin-ya inn, but a chance encounter with the tengu Matsuba might give her another option! Her home cooking and kind manner impress Matsuba, and when he finds out why she’s in Kakuriyo, he offers to welcome her into his family as a daughter-in-law to pay off her debt! Can the still unemployed Aoi afford to turn down such a generous offer? -
Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits, Vol. 3 by Waco Ioka, Waco Ioka
Aoi wasn’t the only orphan her grandfather Shiro took in. Before she went to live with him, he rescued the spider demons Akatsuki and Suzuran and put them to work as unpaid servants! Now Aoi is questioning everything she thought she knew about her upbringing. What was Shiro up to? And more importantly, does that make the spider demons family? ! -
Princess Ahira by K.M. Shea
Once upon a time? Please! What a joke. Princess Ahira is not your average damsel in distress. She hates being a princess and constantly tries to flee from her mother and her lectures. Pleasantly, her life is shattered on the eve of her sixteenth birthday when she is kidnapped by dragons... -
Beauty by Robin McKinley
A strange imprisonment. .. Beauty has never liked her nickname. She is thin and awkward; it is her two sisters who are the beautiful ones. But what she lacks in looks, she can perhaps make up for in courage... -
Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits, Vol. 6 by Waco Ioka
Aoi has been asked to cater an anniversary dinner for a royal couple, and she’s overjoyed at what this will mean for her restaurant. She and Ginji head to the Eastern Lands to do some grocery shopping at a fancy imported food market... -
The Caller by Juliet Marillier
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsNeryn has made a long journey to perfect her skills as a Caller. She has learned the wisdom of water and of earth; she has journeyed to the remote isles of the west and the forbidding mountains of the north. Now, Neryn must travel in Alban's freezing winter to seek the mysterious White Lady, Guardian of Air... -
-
Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits, Vol. 4 by Waco Ioka, Waco Ioka
Aoi is finally ready to open her restaurant on the grounds of the Tenjin-ya inn, but not everyone is as excited about it as she is. Some of the chefs of the main restaurant are doing everything they can to destroy her business before it even has a chance to start! Aoi is determined to keep going, but her detractors are deadly serious about stopping her. -
Falling in Love with the Moth Faerie Prince by Camilla Evergreen
Just so you know, kidnapping is on the table. All I’ve ever wanted is to live in a fantasy world, and, yes, I am willing to sell my soul to a moth faerie prince to make that happen. Which is perfect because after I’ve accidentally, maybe, kinda, sorta hit one with my car, that’s exactly what he asks for. My soul. And a kiss. But we won’t talk about that. Because he told me not to...Categorized as:
forced proximity virgin heroine sweet-hero magic m-f working class heroine non-human-hero royalty -
The Lost Elemental by Tessa Hale
It was supposed to be simple. Graduate, get a job to keep my mom from drowning in mountains of medical debt, and maybe score a scholarship to a decent college. All of that changed in a single breath. Because it turns out I’m not human. And I just knocked out the power on an entire city block. In a split second, all of my carefully-laid plans go up in smoke...Categorized as:
new adult royalty magic sassy heroine working class heroine cold hero sweet-hero m-f -
On Fortune's Wheel by Cynthia Voigt
There are some who say that the Lady Fortune. has a wheel, and all men are fixed upon it. The wheel turns, and the men rise, or fall,. with the turning of the wheel... -
Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits, Vol. 7 by Waco Ioka
After the chaos of being kidnapped and falling ill, Aoi is enjoying the chance to relax and create new recipes for Yūgao's menu. As usual, the ayakashi of Tenjin-ya love everything she makes and their enthusiasm is invigorating. But nothing is simple in Kakuriyo, and even a day off comes with strange encounters and odd new information. -
The First Night with the Duke Volume 1 by Hwang DoTol, Teava
A handsome, selfish noble falls for a beautiful, kind commoner -- at least, that’s how the story’s supposed to go. When an average college student wakes up as Ripley, an extra in her favorite romance novel, she resolves to enjoy the luxuries of her character’s status while watching the novel's plot unfold from the sidelines. -
Cybele's Secret by Juliet Marillier
FOR PAULA, ACCOMPANYING her merchant father on a trading voyage to Istanbul is a dream come true. They have come to this city of trade on a special mission to purchase a most rare artifact—a gift from the ancient goddess, Cybele, to her followers. It’ s the only remnant of a lost, pagan cult. But no sooner have they arrived when it becomes clear they may be playing at a dangerous game...Categorized as:
magic suspense virgin heroine other-man-woman age difference contemporary fantasy mystery -
A Girl Like Me by Ginger Scott
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsI’m not supposed to be here. Death has come for me more than once, and each time it’s been a boy who’s stood between me and my final breath. I called him Christopher when he saved me as a child. When he came into my life again, only months ago, I knew him as Wes. Just as he did the time before, he disappeared the moment he made sure I was out of harm’s way; as if I didn’t need any more saving... -
Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt
I will tell you a story of magic and love, of daring and death, and one to comfort your heart. It will be the truest story I have ever told. Now listen, and tell me if it is not so. Keturah follows a legendary hart deep into the forest, where she becomes hopelessly lost...Categorized as:
magic suspense strong heroine non-human-hero other-man-woman contemporary young adult fantasy -
My Wolf and Me by India R. Adams
Their love was innocent. Their friendship was pure. Their fear was real. Their danger was true. When little Marlena is left to care for an abandoned wolf pup, her parents see their irrevocable bond, and this humble family embarks on an adventure trying to care for the needs of a rapidly growing wolf, and the needs of their headstrong daughter...Categorized as:
virgin heroine suspense non-human-hero sweet-hero possessive hero m-f angst paranormal -
-
The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy: Chap 1-63 by Caroline Above Story
(Sequel of Accidental Surrogate For Alpha. Can be read alone. ) Ariel was looking forward to her arranged marriage as the perfect princess, only to discover that she was being seen merely as a surrogate. Determined to escape the impending wedding, Ariel found herself with nowhere to turn. Her brothers helped her disguise as a boy, and she entered the mysterious and formidable Alpha Academy...Categorized as:
new adult angst magic m-f grumpy sunshine caretaking forced proximity political-intrigue -
Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits, Vol. 8 by Midori Yuma, Laruha
Aoi is excited about her chance to finally try the famous Tenjin-ya kaiseki meal and stay the night in one of the inn’s lavish rooms. But unexpected guests throw the staff into an uproar and send Aoi and the hot springs manager fleeing into the night. What mystery has arrived at the Demon’s Gate while the Ōdanna is away? ! -
Seeds Volume Three by M.M. Kin
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsThe lofty realms of Olympus and the once-fertile land of Hellas are in chaos due to the wrath of a mother gravely affronted. The truth, however unpleasant it is, must be faced. And in the Underworld, Hades must face the repercussions of his actions. Can Persephone ever forgive him? Persephone must find a way to make her life her own, but that is easier said than done... -
The Right Kind of Magic by Jamie Bennett
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe took the tiny paper with the writing and put it in the locket, then she closed it and clasped the silver chain around my neck. “That paper has the name of someone who will be very important to you when you’re a grown-up lady. It’s the name of the man that you’ll marry someday…”. Nealy Duncan isn’t interested in folklore and superstitions—or in marriage, for that matter... -
Unlearning by Daria T. Rowan
This is a story about an unwanted mate and a werewolf who'd rather be something else. Samantha has patiently waited for her mate ever since her first shift. After finding him, she discovers that he has a pregnant human fiancée he's been with for the last four years. Now Samantha needs to make some difficult decisions about the rest of her life... -
In the Fading Light by Tara Brown
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSeparated by a curse but bound by love. In the fading light of the night, their eyes meet where their lips cannot. It is a single second that sustains their love. From the moment her eyes met his, Estelle Dumont was captivated. Her heart would always be his. But Edmond Lamont's heart wasn't entirely hers. He had been in love once before, tricked by the fair beauty of an Encantado named Lisle... -
일레나 에보이 관찰 일지 1 [Elena Evoy Gwanchal Ilji 1] (Observing Elena Evoy (Webtoon) #1) by Myeongcho, 명초
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 5 ratings모두 요한이 아카데미 입학생 수석이 될 거라 믿어 의심치 않았다. 주신이 축복한 얼굴, 사근사근하고 다정한 성격, 공부뿐 아니라 모든 분야에서 두각을 나타내는 실력. 하지만, 그 자리는 엉뚱하게 한미한 자작가의 영애가 차지하게 되는데…. “일레나 양. 수석 축하해. ”. “고마워. ”. 이름조차 생소한 에보이 자작가의 일레나는 달랐다. 당연히 뒤이어 따라올 반응이 없었다. 보통 사람이라면 요한과 친해지고자 굴 텐데. “할 말이 남았어? ”. 자신을 눈곱만큼도 신경 쓰지 않는 모습에 요한의 자존심에 쩌저적, 금이 가고 말았다. 그것이 요한이 일레나를 관찰하게 된 아주 사소한 계기였다. -
Thorne by Charlotte McConaghy
Rated: 3.94 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAn enthralling romantic fantasy about finding true love against all odds, Thorne is the second book in the Chronicles of Kaya series. Lovers in Kaya have always died together, bonded in death as in life. But a cure for the bond has sent rumours like wildfire through the land... -
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
Miri lives on a mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have quarried stone and lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king's priests have divined her small village the home of the future princess. In a year's time, the prince himself will come and choose his bride from among the girls of the village...Categorized as:
magic royalty strong heroine sassy heroine suspense competent heroine m-f other-man-woman -
Recipe for Magic by Agatha Bird
Connor Roth is a fire mage who’s going places. He's powerful, popular, and he has a plan. But his plan for fame and glory is disrupted when the Oracle sticks him with Landyn Glendower for Senior Trial. This is an act unprecedented in their school's history. Landyn is a water mage, and everyone knows mages with opposing elements can’t work magic together... -
-
Troubled Waters by Sharon Shinn
The author of the Twelve Hours series welcomes readers to a new fantasy world, where the elements rule. Zoe Ardelay receives astonishing and unwelcome news: she has been chosen to become the king's fifth wife. Forced to go to the royal city, she manages to slip away and hide on the shores of the mighty river... -
Liar's Moon by Elizabeth C. Bunce
Rated: 3.86 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsPrisons, poisons, and passions combine in a gorgeously written fantasy noir. As a pickpocket, Digger expects to spend a night in jail every now and then. But she doesn't expect to find Lord Durrel Decath there as well--or to hear he's soon to be executed for killing his wife...Categorized as:
magic suspense royalty other-man-woman political-intrigue contemporary fantasy young adult -
The Lost & Found by Katrina Leno
Rated: 3.80 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsA charming and imaginative new novel about getting lost before you can be found. LOST:. Frannie and Louis met in an online support group when they were both younger. They have never met face-to-face. They don’t even know each other’s real names. All they know is that they both have a mysterious tendency to lose things. Well, not lose them, exactly. Things just seem to…disappear. FOUND:...Categorized as:
new adult magic secret-relationship fantasy contemporary young adult paranormal length-medium -
House of Hearts by Skyla Arndt
Solving her best friend's murder means infiltrating a secret society, resisting a forbidden love, and running from a vengeful ghost in this sophomore novel by the author of Together We Rot. “An intoxicating blend of romance and horror, darkness and wit. With haunts and twists that leap off the page, this was a rabbit hole I was happy to fall down... -
Potions, Poisons, and Policies by Courtney Thorne
At Forrestbriar Academy, Henri is focused on her studies and determined to steer clear of romance. But when someone attacks her campus with a widespread love potion, turning her fellow students into lovesick fools, Henri is forced to look for a solution...Categorized as:
new adult suspense angst magic m-f forced proximity competent heroine independent heroine -
Ignite by Sara B. Larson
Murder, abductions, and forbidden romance abound in this thrilling sequel to Sara B. Larson's acclaimed YA debut, DEFY. Alexa remains by the newly crowned King Damian’s side as his guard, ever committed to helping him rebuild Antion and reclaim the hope of Antion's people, despite continuing to harbor a secret love for him...Categorized as:
magic royalty other-man-woman m-f boss & employee political-intrigue virgin heroine contemporary -
Bewitched by Jisa Dean
Halloween is all about getting treats from strangers. But when one grabs Saffie and kisses her breathless it feels a lot more like a trick than a treat. What would a sexy vampire want with her anyway? She’s a short, nerdy nineteen-year-old who would rather be reading than be at the party she finds herself at. The vampire in question…he’s a hot cop who has his whole life going right for him...Categorized as:
virgin heroine age difference new adult possessive hero m-f paranormal contemporary pregnancy -
Endless by Kate Brian
Rated: 3.72 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsAn unthinkable betrayal threatens everyone Rory loves in the third installment of our dark, thrilling Shadowlands series from New York Times best-selling author Kate Brian. Rory Miller didn't just fall in love with Tristan Parrish. She fell in love with the idea of forever... -
King of Tricksters by S.L. Prater
Rain clings to life by her fingertips. She’s lost too much blood. The assassin circles her, waiting for her to succumb, but Rain made a vow to her mate, the Duke of Night. She promised him the head of his enemies, and she longs to seat him on the empty throne. Night only offered her a marriage of convenience. Now she’s determined to win his heart and keep hers beating... -
The Rýkr Duet by M.E. Clayton
The Rýkr Duet is the story of Avalon and Neve Lively and the special abilities the girls possess. Believing they were the only ones to possess such remarkable gifts, they're not prepared for Griffin and Easton Keenstone and the impact they're about to make on the girls' lives. Struggling to navigate their newfound knowledge, only one thing is certain; Griffin and Easton aren't going anywhere... -
-
Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer by Maureen McGowan
In this thrilling story full of adventure and romance, Sleeping Beauty is more than just a lonely princess waiting for her prince—she's a brave, tenacious girl who never backs down from a challenge... -
The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson
From New York Times bestselling author Mary E. Pearson comes a thrilling romantic fantasy full of dangerous fae, dark secrets, and addictive romance. After losing both their parents, Bristol Keats and her sisters struggle to stay afloat in their small, quiet town of Bowskeep... -
Daughter of the Flames by Zoë Marriott
Rated: 3.66 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsThis is a sweeping fantasy chronicling a courageous girl's fight for freedom and love in a world ravaged by war and religious fanaticism. Zahira is a young woman of the conquered Rua people. She has been raised to distrust the occupying population. But everything changes when her home is destroyed and she finds out some shocking truths about her past...Categorized as:
strong heroine royalty magic political-intrigue contemporary young adult fantasy insta-love -
The Luminaries by Susan Dennard
From Susan Dennard, the New York Times bestselling author of the Witchlands series, comes a haunting and high-octane contemporary fantasy about the magic it takes to face your fears in a nightmare-filled forest and the mettle required to face the secrets hiding in the dark corners of your own family. An Instant New York Times Bestseller. A Barnes & Noble YA Book Club Pick...Categorized as:
magic monsters suspense survival competent heroine independent heroine strong heroine sassy heroine -
Defy by Sara B. Larson
Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard...
Find out more about romance.io.
Get recommendations by genres & tropes
Use the romance book finder to mix and match over 100 content keywords to find the books that match your preferences
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.

