I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Sixteen-year-old Kellan DuCuivre is the descendant of traitors. She never knew her family members or which one of them betrayed the isle of Nanseau. But like all Du orphaned after the war, Kellan is forbidden by law from practicing makecraft, the trade of carving magic into metal that was perfected by the Guild of Engineers and their maker apprentices. No one can know that Kellan has been using makecraft in secret and that, in the wake of a tragic miscarve, she’s been helping her adoptive father, Edgar, run his celebrated makeshop.

But Edgar’s condition is worsening, and his shop is on the brink of ruin. On the eve of the Eighty-Fourth Annual Makers’ Exposition in Nanseau’s sparkling city of Riz, Kellan is thrust into the Guild’s twisted web of political intrigue and ancient secrets when she strikes a dangerous deal with one of its members to save Edgar and his shop. Now Kellan must compete in a rigorous gauntlet against the nation’s elite for a coveted spot as a maker’s apprentice.

But danger lurks at every turn. And as Kellan falls into a budding relationship with the illegitimate son from one of Nanseau’s most revered families, she’s put into the limelight when something sinister begins targeting the Gauntlet’s competitors and wreaking havoc on Riz. Amid a crumbling city and a ticking clock, winning the Gauntlet won’t just be a test of survival—it will mean pulling back the veil of secrets behind the Guild and uncovering the shrouded legacies of Nanseau itself.

Short and Sweet Review

Kellan is a descendent of traitors and because of that she isn’t allowed to use makecraft, which is using magic to make metal. Kellan uses makecraft to help her adoptive father Edgar run his store. When Edgar’s condition worsens, Kellan ends up in a competition to become a maker’s apprentice. During the competition, competitors are being killed and the city is being destroyed. Kellan needs to uncover the secrets of the guild in order to survive.

The Ancient’s Game is a stand alone or at least I think it is. I wasn’t sure what this book was about when I started reading it but I was pleasantly surprised. I feel like my synopsis above feels like it’s all over the place, but I feel like the book is a bit confusing and at the same time it all makes sense. Kellan is talented when it comes to using makecraft and she could get in trouble if she’s caught using it. Kellan is an intelligent character and you could tell she loved what she does, she loves those around her and she’s loyal. I liked the relationship between Kellan and her mentor Mesny, they had a great dynamic. Kellan also becomes friends with Lou the cab driver and Cyn who’s a robot. I think the only part of this book that could come across as confusing was the trials, and at the end I realized there was a mystery aspect. I did enjoy the magic system in this book it was unique.

Overall, this was a good book. I liked all of the characters and the relationships that were formed. The concept was interesting and it was nice to have a magic system and a deadly competition in the mix. I do think some aspects of the book can come across confusing or leave readers with questions and to remedy that there could have been things that were more fleshed out. I would still recommend this book, it was entertaining and captivating!