Gameboard of the Gods
By Julie A. Carlson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Dystopian thriller for adults OK for mature teens.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Report this review
Report this review
What's the Story?
GAMEBOARD OF THE GODS takes place in a futuristic United States that was destroyed by religious extremists. The United States is now called RUNA (Republic of United North America). Mae Koskinen works for the government and is asked to locate Dr. Justin March, who's living outside RUNA in Panama. But Mae also has a mission: She must work with Justin to solve a string of murders related to religious extremism and segregation. Mae is a strong fighter -- tough and no-nonsense. But when she encounters Justin, she immediately falls for him despite the two ravens that talk inside his head, his drug addiction, and his womanizing ways.
Is It Any Good?
Although the story is unique and will appeal to fans of dystopian and post-apocalyptic literature, it might start to bore some readers, especially teens.
Gameboard of the Gods is Richelle Mead's first adult novel. She's has garnered many teen fans through her YA series Vampire Academy and Bloodlines. But Gameboard of the Gods is very different from those books. It's definitely for adults, but older teens may gravitate toward it because they've read the YA series. Gameboard of the Gods features strong language, sex, violence, drug use, as well as heavier and more mature themes than those found in Mead's YA books.
The two main characters use each other for their own means and often clash and fall into lust throughout the story. Justin is likable, although somewhat of rake. Mae is cold and calculating. The most interesting character is Tessa, a teen who works alongside Justin. Mead does a good job with world-building. There is some heavy info dumping and a military-type setting, so all in all, the book might appeal more to men and older teen boys than females.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Richelle Mead's YA books. How are they similar to or different from Gameboard of the Gods?
What do you think of Richelle Mead's foray into science fiction? Is it as compelling as her fantasy fiction?
What do you think about the supernatural aspects of the novel, including the role gods play in people's lives?
Book Details
- Author: Richelle Mead
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Dutton Books
- Publication date: June 4, 2013
- Number of pages: 464
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: June 22, 2015
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate