Book Review: The Winged Game by Sophie Kim

Title: The Winged Game
Author: Sophie Kim
Pages: 544
Publication Date: June 30, 2026
Publisher: Del Rey
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy
Synopsis:

Carriwitchet, the violent, rugby-esque game played atop winged beasts, was once Taissa Cho’s whole life, and she was once the United Kingdom’s most promising player. Until her nemesis, rival player Kion Locke, destroyed her career in a single moment. Expelled from the sport in disgrace, Taissa has spent the last two years dreaming of nothing but revenge and relishing watching Kion’s team plummet to the bottom of the league.

So when Taissa is offered the chance to redeem herself and her career, she can’t refuse—even if the offer is coming from the very man who ruined everything in the first place. It’s close to a dream come true . . . except for that pesky clause in her contract that demands she and Kion enter a fake relationship in order to garner some much-needed positive PR for the team. This could not be a worse match. Taissa and Kion only have two things in their love of the game, and their undying hatred for each other.

Yet as a mysterious illness befalls the winged creatures of the entire league—putting both the beasts’ lives and the very sport itself at stake—the athletes find themselves partnering up in other ways, determined to crack the case of the eerie sickness. As their investigation takes them on a whirlwind adventure, Kion and Taissa are prepared for anything . . .

Anything, that is, but their fake-for-the-cameras relationship to maybe, just maybe, become something real after all.

LINKS: Goodreads | BookBub | Amazon

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Wow! This was such a great read! The Winged Game completely pulled me in from the start with a unique mix of fantasy, sports, and romance. The story follows Taissa Cho, a disgraced carriwitchet player who is given a chance to return to the sport two years after her rival Kion Locke destroyed her career. Forced into a fake relationship for team publicity, these enemies must work together as a mysterious illness threatens the winged creatures of the game. As tensions rise on and off the field, old grudges, buried secrets, and unexpected feelings start to surface, and I loved every second of it. Between the high-stakes matches, the mystery surrounding the illness affecting the winged creatures, and all the tension between the characters, it was an entertaining and engrossing read.

Taissa and Kion were both such compelling protagonists. There’s so much history between them, and you can feel the tension (and chemistry) between them from the start. Taissa is fierce, driven, and bitter about what happened to her, but there’s also a deeply hurt and vulnerable woman underneath her tough shell. Kion is a little harder to read at first, but as more of his layers and past are revealed, you really get to understand him on a deeper level. They both have trauma in their pasts that very much define them, and I loved watching both of them grow, especially as they’re forced to work together despite everything between them. Their individual journeys were just as engaging as their relationship and journey as a pair.

I absolutely adored the romance between Taissa and Kion! This is enemies-to-lovers perfection. Years of misunderstandings, rivalry, and career-ruining actions fuel their dislike of each other, and there is a deep-seated animosity between them. They argue and flirt and tease and bicker while trying to fight their ever-changing feelings, and it takes time for the pair to work through their volatile, revenge-filled history. I love that both characters learn from their mistakes and grow and change because of them. They take accountability for their roles in each other’s past. One in particular has a lot of groveling to do, and it was top-tier with a complete redemption. The banter and chemistry, the adoration and fun they have, as well as the sexual tension and hope they share, are all wonderful.

And the found family? Exceptional! At the start, they’re a bit fractured, but once Taissa comes into the picture, the crew slowly finds their way back to each other. And they become even stronger for it. The way they support each other 100 percent, no matter what, that unequivocal acceptance and fierce loyalty is so deeply felt. The humor and banter, the rich and meaningful conversations, and the fun they have balance out the danger, curses, and betrayals they face so well.

I also loved the relationship between Taissa and the animal she rides, Cronus. Poor grumpy Cronus! He’s hysterical with a bedraggled look and the personality of a crotchety old man. The way these two bickered cracked me up, and as their bond strengthens and he learns to trust her more, they end up sharing a really beautiful connection. This bond changes Cronus, and I think it says a lot about Taissa, who is patient and kind and understands Cronus in a way that no one else does.

The story is well-paced and intriguing, as the characters face a multitude of challenges, including curses, break-ins, threats, betrayal, fake dating schemes, and the mysterious illness that plagues the animals they ride, which threatens the future of the sport and the players. And that ending was just lovely. It wrapped everything up so wonderfully and definitely left me with a smile on my face. All together, it makes for an entertaining and immersive read. I would definitely recommend checking trigger warnings before going in, though, since the story does touch on some heavier themes, including abuse, PTSD, anxiety, and more.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

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• fake dating
• enemies to lovers
• forced proximity
• found family
• curses
• touch her and die
• grumpy x grumpy

Not all injuries are perceptible. Some are as invisible as a speckled fish hiding between the river’s rocks. And some can be made invisible.

They fall asleep like that: wrapped around each other, the weight of each other’s secrets upon them—but not uncomfortably, no. Their secrets, thinks Taissa, are like the quilt above them. Heavy, yet somehow so comforting to share.

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