Review: The Games We Play (The Path of Temptation Series Book 3) by Auryn Hadley

The Games We Play by Auryn Hadley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Initiates

This book is the third in a five-book fantasy series. The previous books need to be read in order to understand the contents of this book.

This book is all about the second part of the main characters' first year of their Initiate years. Nari and Talin return from the Darkest Day festivities at his brother, the Baron of Temptation’s, Residence. The visit wasn’t much fun because the Baron is a very unpleasant man. However, the visit seemed to shine a spotlight on Nari, with the rumour mill going overtime assuming the visit was about Nari instead of Talin. The only good thing to come out of the visit was Maela, the Baron’s wife, reaching out tentatively in friendship to Nari.

Everyone seems to have stepped up their game to force Nari to declare a single Path or to cause her to step down a Path by failing her courses. The pressure is causing her to doubt herself and her ability to succeed in saving Zeal and his brothers and sisters from disappearing completely. Her lovers all want to protect her from the stress and try to find ways to help.

In this book, we get more insight into some of the other Paths, in particular the Path of Obligation. Nari is being exposed to different people around the Temple and spreading her belief in Zeal and the evidence of his existence is worn on her skin. More people are being swayed towards belief in his existence because of her role as his Voice. Still, Nari and her lovers are all being forced to play politics and are being manipulated by those in power far too much.

This book is fantastic. It’s full of emotion, politics and passion. The world-building for the series becomes richer and more detailed as we learn more about Zeal and his siblings. The education of the Initiates becomes more complete and through that education, we get a picture of what it will be like for the students after they become fully-fledged priests and priestesses.

The plot is carefully constructed, as always, to build tension and weave information around the emotions that keep you captivated. Throw in the politics and the passion and you have a winning formula for an incredible book within an amazing series. There is a lot more sex in this book, not only between the main group but as part of their training so there are scenes with people outside the romantic core that surround Nari. This is expected and is warned about early in the series, so it shouldn’t be any big surprise at this stage.

One of the things I really love about this series is the focus on love being many things to different people. There is the love of the parent or mentor, the love of friends and confidants, romantic love, passionate love, the love of brothers-in-arms and the love of their god. There are so many types of love in this book, some even overlap, but it is the thread that runs throughout the series. There is a bond created by love that is stronger than anything their opponents can throw at them.

When I finished this book, I almost want to read it all over again to see the fine nuances that I know this author placed in this book. Whenever I re-read a book by Auryn Hadley I always find more the second or third time around. This book will be no exception as there is such richness in the details of plot, emotions and background. I hate that I have to wait another few months for the next book, but at least it’s up for pre-order!

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