A Game of Strength and Storm is a gender-bent retelling of the Labours of Hercules and that had me wanting to read this book. I'm a sucker for Greek Mythology at the best of times, but a well-written retelling will always have me wanting to get lost in the story and Rachel Menard's story was no exception.

Our protagonist Gen, is a MindWorker and through using her blood, hair or saliva can control (willing) animals to do their will. The animals can refuse something that they strongly disapprove of which I thought was well done, and is a reminder that free will is always so important in life. She's been a victim of circumstance and lost everything and is determined to save her father from false imprisonment. (No spoilers I promise, this is all mentioned in the synopsis!)

She's well-written and although the way her perspective of all that unfolds highlights she's the good guy in this battle? She's not perfect and is aware of that herself - she's prone to mistakes and has made decisions she's later regretted but that is a human trait; no one is infallible.

I liked that not only do we get Gen's perspective but also those of the two StormMakers, twins Castor and Pollux. Their ability sounds both dangerous and also incredible - they can capture and control nature especially lightning and wind which truly does sound like you'd be a God with that power. This comes with a weight of responsibility that Lady Castor disregards and makes her the perfect antagonist but also a victim of her arrogance and desires. 

I quite liked her Devil May Care attitude to a degree but she's also horrible for something she does. (I wasn't a happy reader at all and was cursing her to be hit by her lighting storm!) Pollux on the other hand is more level-headed and Menard has written him in such a beautiful way that I could see in my mind him weaving miniature storms, winds etc to tell stories and it was just *chef's kiss*.

The true evil is the Empresses, and I did hope to read more of their barbaric ways but a true villain is always written well and those of Grecian Mythology are on another level of insanity. The games the Empresses play with their citizens lives are another level and to know they simply don't care of things go wrong was delicious. (Yes, I am giggling maniacally because I can't help but find them both awful and incredible.. I'm a bad person.)

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦. 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦, 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

The concept of the lottery is an excellent albeit terrible idea - and I can only imagine how desperate you'd be to enter as all seem to know that their hope comes with the knowledge they would have their hands metaphorically tied behind their back. The Empresses are manipulative and always 10 steps ahead. Menard's dedication to give each of those facing the rulers to be unique with very different and hard to accomplish wishes mirror the difficult or should I say Herculean tasks from the original tale. 

I love this book, the world-building is well done and not overly complicated so if doesn't distracf from the  story, and how if affects the three people trying to get what they need. I will need to get the sequel as soon as I can, as we're left on a cliffhanger that has me wondering just how much Gen will have you go to find happiness and save her father... 

Also, Pollux deserved the biggest of hugs because he's lovely. His unwavering ability to believe in not only more, but the good each ability could have especially his own is refreshing.