A Game of Deceit and Desire

Girl Games #3

by Ruby Roe

Can love survive when trust is the rarest magic of all?

Bella Blythe, master of lattice magic, is determined to win the Runic Games... If only her greatest rival, Remy Reid would get out of the way.

For years they one-upped each other in competitions, jobs, and their apprenticeships…

Until a single kiss changed everything.

With the biggest competition of their lives ahead of them, they’re going to have to trust each other…

A futile task when they’re both harbouring secrets filled with betrayal…

With a reputation and a relationship at risk, they’re left with an impossible choice:

Do they want to win a competition or a heart?

Two women, two betrayals, and a romance that will rewrite their destiny.

This is a steamy lesbian fantasy romance with rivals to lovers, forbidden romance, only one bed, found family, forced proximity, tons of spice. 18+ readers only.

Genres: Lesbian, Fantasy, Queer, Romance, Smut, LGBT, Enemies To Lovers

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 26, 2023

About the author

Ruby Roe writes lesbian fantasy romance. She loves a bit of magic with her smut and will read anything as long as the characters get down and dirty. When she isn’t writing, she’s beasting herself at the gym or wandering the world on her next adventure. She lives in England with her wife, son, and two devious Ragdoll cats.

Reviews

[Guerunche · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are clever, fabulously narrated and smokin’ hot. This last volume of the trilogy was perhaps the most sex-heavy of the three. If you don’t like explicit sex, these are not the books for you.

I enjoyed them and am looking forward to her other series!

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the author's latest addition to the series, intrigue and treachery lurk in the shadows. Rivals and magicians Remy and Bella pushed each other as apprentices. Now a plot is uncovered for the criminal and rogue mentor Roman to escape prison. Remy put him there but Bella was his apprentice - is she part of the conspiracy? All this drama as the Runic Games take place, each wanting the top prize of Royal Rune Master and passion erupts between the two magicians.
Roe's plot has rivalry, lies, smoke and mirrors, societal pressure and lust. Love and hate, strong emotions - are they separate or one? Surely Bella and Remy are better together than apart. There are surprises in store and broken trust with the safety of the Crown paramount. I read quickly hoping for a happy conclusion.

I encourage anyone who loves books with magic, great world building, danger, treachery and hot romance to take up this series. You won't be disappointed.

[Menestrella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was 🔥🔥🔥🔥 😳

[Lucy Hampton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the three books in 10 days and absolutely adored every single one and every single one of the main characters. The smut in these books is something else 🔥 Love how this world keeps growing and gets more descriptive, by book 3 you can really visualise it.

I loved Morrigan and Stirlings story the most and this one next. I adore Remy and Bella. I hope we get more of them in the future, I’d love to know what they do next.

I’d love a book with all of them in which swapped between different perspectives. I just seriously can’t get enough 😍

[Unique Person · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Literal trash but you will NOT find a smuttier lesbo book😮‍💨

[Journey Verspeek · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's difficult to rate this book. it was better than the other two books in this series, thus i liked the story. however there were some mistakes, with names in the wrong order, and normally I don't notice them (or they aren't there) but it made me reread a few times which took me out of the story.
anywayyyy,
it's about Remy, part of the friend group, and her nemesis Bella... but they are coupled because Bella is a suspect of the possible outbreak of Roman (from last book).
but the nemesis part of the story turns around really fast... and they slowly learn how to work together as a team in the hackers competition.
there is betrayal in the end, because bella wants to make a trap for Roman by acting as if she's helping him.
and Remy finds out that she's helping him, just before the finale...
in the end he and his brother (marcel = remy's mentor) are sent off to the vampires...
the steamy scenes were fun, but felt a bit repetitive after a while (9)

[Ella Jennings · Rating 1 out of 5]

as a fan of the first two books in this series, this book left me incredibly disappointed and frustrated

[Sterling Sapphic Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby Roe has mastered the enemies-to-lovers trope. OMFG. I legit just can't EVEN with this series. It's volcanic. There's so much I love about this series in general but Remy just kidnapped my heart and locked it away. Ooooohhhhh Remy. Just Yummy.

As in the first two books, the world-building is phenomenal, the characters are captivating, the chemistry is EXPLOSIVE and the narrators are perfect for the vibe of this book. I was on fire through this final installment of the Girl Games Series. The pull between Remy and Bella was absolutely palpable. Both of these characters have their own agenda but their pull to each other is so strong. . I love how Roe wrote this dynamic, "we'll get it out of system once" turns into "I can't get enough" turns into "FEEEELIIINNNNGSSSS" without permission from the characters... it just can't be helped. GAH! So angsty!! These two had me by the held hostage and didn't let go.

AND- Once again - I can't not mention - Ruby Roe writes some HELLA sapphic steam. OMFG. There are plenty in this book but the toy scene. I needed a good glass of wine after that one. Just wow

This whole series was just phenomenal. If you're looking for stellar sapphic paranormal romance - THIS IS IT!!!!

This series will be a re-listen for me.. If you're new to audiobooks, 100% I recommend this series as an introduction to the world of Audiobooks. The writing and the narration are UTTER PERFECTION!!!!

[Jennie Hedges · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
I loved that this book was different from the first two in terms of what the “battles” looked like. There were still lots of twists and turns but less fist fights and swords and I still loved it as much as the first two! I can’t wait to read another from this author hopefully soon!

[Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughout this whole series, I kept thinking "Ruby can't possibly make me sob harder, laugh louder, and fall more in love with these characters" but she absolutely does. Remy and Bella had me weeping by the end of this. I already can't wait to reread this series.

[Danelle Bradley (queerlygayoticreader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Game of Deceit and Desire by Ruby Roe
✨Book Review✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 stars


I have to start by saying WHOA this entire Girl Games series is absolute what the queer/ romantasy reading lovers needed in the world. The spice is TOP notch for sapphic relationships. All the characters from previous books make appearances throughout the series. If you have not read A Game of Hearts and Heists or A Game of Romance and Ruin. Stop what you are doing right now and go read them. Because you will want to binge read them to get to this epic finale of book 3 that you HAVE to read.
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If you have read book 1 and 2, YOU HAVE to preorder A Game of Deceit and Desire that comes out October 26th. You will not want to miss this.
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As a reader I strive to find books that take me on an emotional rollercoaster I feel like I will never recover from. THIS BOOK WAS ALL OF THAT AND MORE. But also add in the lesbian fantasy on top of it all. I am in true bliss of all my favorite things.

“The alchemical formula for love is perplexing.” “If I were to reference academic literature, it would tell you the base chemicals are hormones: oxytocin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.” To start a book with these sentences I immediately was playing “serotonin” by girl in red ON REPEAT.
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Remy and Bella’s story wrecked me body and soul. You go on this journey of a competition with enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and THE SASS and THE HATE that turns into HOT SPICE, had me melted into a puddle. The ending of this book destroyed my soul, I sobbed so hard, I thought I would never be whole again, but I was slowly put together again. This is truly the ultimate ending to this series. I couldn’t have been more honored to have received this ARC. It is in my top 4 reads of 2023. BUT not to worry even thought this series is ending Ruby will be back with a NEW series based in the same world but add in vampires. You get a sneak peek in this book!

[HONEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
Pensé que iba a ser 5 ⭐️ pero agarraron el cliché de miscommunication y ya no me encantó tanto :((
PERO tengo que decir que WOW REMI y Bella, santo dios, que mujeres, que MUJERES 😭 especialmente REMI me re puede 😩 wey oficialmente la reclamo como mi novia literaria porque no te pases que mujer 😩
Este libro tiene una trama muy entretenida, aunque a veces no entendía muy bien de que carajos hablaban porque dicen cosas tecnológicas y yo 🧍🏻‍♀️ El romance es increíble y ni hablar de las escenas 🔥 verdaderamente son de las mejores escenas spicy lésbicas que he leído 🛐
De los mejores libros que he leído 🩷

[Laura Blenes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Deceitfully Desirable Read!

As a standalone this book is an incredible read, as the final part of the trio it's just perfection! Twists, turns, sapphic smut that made me leave a room to read - as well as when I nearly walked in front of a bus reading it! It has everything you want and more. Plot, betrayal, spice (omg!), friendship, secrets revealed. A fantastic ending to an insatiable series. Bravo Ruby, Bravo!

[Tanisha Symons · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was my 20th book of the year and what a book to finish on! loved the storyline and love remy and bella !! they work so well together im obsessed! i figured out pretty early on what was going to happen so i wish that could have been concealed a bit more for the shock value but i enjoyed it none the less! these two are horny fucking bastards

[Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ame este romance super picante, aunque en los tres libros se repite el cliche "no comunicarse" 🙄 me tuvo siempre atrapada y soy fan del rivals to lovers que mujeres tan sexys diosss. Los libros de esta autora ne han gustado muchísimo

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

excited for red’s story

[marr;་༘࿐ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Rey Hawke · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not gonna lie it was really cute, not a bad end to the series <3

[María]

Dnf at 60%

[theperksofbeingmarissa ;) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The steamiest one yet 🥰🥵

[Chloé Guitard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! this book was very good. Probably the book with the most smut out of the three in the series. I recommend it.

[Fuffles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loveeeeed this defo my fav pairing in this trilogy!!!! struggled a bit with the pacing but the chemistry was unreal & I enjoyed the angst too

[Jaime Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Because I’d be desperately bored without you in my life… Because you fascinate me as much as you frustrate me. [A]nd maybe…just maybe because I’m rather fond of looking at you…”

“[M]y heart keeps stuttering like it can’t quite beat right anymore. Like I can’t catch my breath when she’s away.”

“Because I’ve figured it out. It’s you plus me and the rest of eternity.”

[Liberty Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you for a smutty lesbian angsty story - exactly what i needed x

[Kiersten · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book in this series was great and kept me wanting more of the enemies to lover, love stories. The second book was a little different with bringing back a past romance for the win!
In regards to more or less side characters from the first book.
This book #3 felt like it was more reaching for something that just wasn't there.
Made more for the spicy content (books one and two also had that), but not much substance in this third follow-up. Was a little disappointed 😞
But I definitely recommend the first two books!

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

obvious 5 STARS for one of my favorite series ever.

This was I think the best book in the series story-wise. It was super interesting to nerd out with the MCs. I love nerdy women, especially when they're so-so smart and I also love that they were not that afraid to leave the enemies part behind. I did not care all that much for Rumy in the first 2 books, I did like her but ehhh, but coming into this 3rd book that's about her, I found her so hot and cute and just wanted to hug her, I felt like she was abandoned by the team at times.

But I'm mad. Story-wise this book was my favorite in the series. Remy and Bella were so-so cute and so obviously in love with each other. BUT. I have beef with how we didn't get a Morrigan-Starling royal Wedding and Rumy never became the Royal Rune Master. Ruby Roe, I need my royal wedding and to see the gang all happy and content.

Overall, I do wish the books were longer, I would've loved to catch glimpses of conversation between Scarlett and Quinn, and moments between Stirling and Morrigan, especially in this book, how hard the whole thing must have been on them, but I can't complain, because I'm so grateful for getting this.

I'm going to read everything Ruby has in store for us.

[Angel Beckford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was sooo much better than book 2. The fact that Bella and Remy are both Nerdy rune coders made for a fantastic dynamic. The sex is HOT. Their banter is everything! I just love these two so much. The plot is well thought out and the runic games are explained in their perfect amount of detail without overkill into a world we can’t liken to our own reality. The introduction of Red is really great to see here and the understanding of how these friendships formed. (I’ve read the trilogies in the wrong order so I never previously understood how Red connected with all these characters at first).
Honestly no complaints. This could almost be read as a stand alone book and you’d only have a few questions about the external relationships because it’s so heavily focused on our MCs which was a great read