Think twice if…
- Content warnings: Death, Death of loved one, Grief, Violence, Graphic violence, Murder, Death of a partner, Trauma
The Wishing Game
by Veronica Lancet
Book 1 in The Wishing Game
A 700+ page epic that earns every page - a grief-stricken woman enters a gods-designed death game to resurrect her beloved and ends up falling for the ancient god trying to stop her. The slow burn between Luce and Ze is agonizing in the best way.
goodreads 4.24/5 524 ratings
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length736 pages
Series statusOngoing series
Spice2/5 · Tension / anticipation focus
PacingMedium
Story profile
What the story promises
The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.
Romance promise
- Enemies to lovers
- Male/female pairing (M/F)
- Slow burn
- Medium
- Tension / anticipation focus
- Book hangover incoming
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- God/deity
- Love/hate tension
- Slow burn with late spice
- The angst delivered
- Dark/tortured soul
- Tension
- Feral brain activated
- Morally gray
- He falls first
- Anticipation
- Tension finally satisfied
- Secretly soft
- Banter
- Longing glances
- Adrenaline rush
- Villain
- Reluctant allies to lovers
- Playful banter
- Push and pull
- Eye contact intensity
- He's obsessed she's oblivious
Fantasy promise
- Romantasy
- Competition / games
- High fantasy
- Gods/deities
- Fated mates
- Temple / church / monastery
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- Mythological
- Demons
- Forced proximity
- Harpies
- Games/trials romance
- Forbidden love
- Competition romance
- Survival romance
- Sacrifice/martyrdom
- Immortal/mortal romance
Reading experience
- Dual POV
- Dark
- Immersive
- Heavy
- High
- Survivor
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- Epic
- Dramatic
- Reluctant chosen one
- Intense
- Emotional
- Vengeful / revenge-driven
- Adventurous
- Mysterious
- Atmospheric
- Angsty
- Suspenseful
- Yearning
- Dangerous
- Mythic
- Squid Game meets ancient gods
- Mortal woman vs divine trickster god
- Grief-driven quest to resurrect the dead
- Found family forged in the arena
Similar stories
Similar in ways that matter
Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.
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Similar because
Survival romance · Villain · Competition romance
Different because
Spice is higher (3/5 vs 2/5). Fast pacing rather than Medium.
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Flame and Sparrow
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Similar because
Immortal/mortal romance · He falls first · Banter
Different because
Spice is higher (3/5 vs 2/5).
Standalone
The Broken Kingdoms 7-9: The Southern and Western Kingdoms
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Similar because
Villain · Mythic · Sacrifice/martyrdom
Different because
It is standalone rather than completed. Spice is higher (4/5 vs 2/5).
Book details
- Length
- 736 pages
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book