I was not familiar with the story of Ganga or the Mahabharata before reading this, so I can’t speak to the accuracies of this retelling or its precision in relation to the source material, which I am sure could color anyone’s experience in a different way with far more familiarity than mine. That being said, I found this book to be a wonderful journey in its own right relating to the nature of man, morality vs. sin, duty vs. justice, and all those wonderfully complex things that make us human. It was an incredibly profound experience in that way with a succinctness that its original epic form might not possess. The prose was beautiful and poetic in its own right, without sacrificing an adherence to plot or substance in its elegance.

I found the character of Ganga deeply compelling and relatable, despite her divinity, and appreciated the ways in which she was able to learn from humanity itself, not merely the other way around. Her love for Bhishma was very pure, her struggles with motherhood deeply emotional and at times entirely gut-wrenching. Only the most masterful of writers can move a reader in that way. It was so emotionally potent in how all the characters related to each other and their complex dynamics, though at times a bit confusing to keep up with them all, especially Bhishma’s grandsons. (Though I was grateful for the provided family tree at least). The political workings of Hastinapur were a bit murky and also tough to keep track of, but I’m also sure that relates a lot to the density of the source material itself. As others have said, I do wish we focused more on Ganga’s perspective and that feminine voice, but I can also understand how the story’s impact is beyond her and reflects on the surrounding male characters. All in all, I think it was moving and definitely worth reading, especially if someone has any interest in this story or a Hindu mythic retelling more broadly.

Think Squid Games but with magic and immersed in Latin culture, that's Fortune's Kiss! I truly don't understand how this book has flown under the radar, it's one of the strongest YA dark fantasies I have read!

What This Book Does Well The strongest elements of Fortune’s Kiss are its psychological depth and the high-tension execution of its central game, Loteria. Unlike some survival stories that rely solely on physical prowess, this “death game” is a often a battle of wits where the challenges are dictated by the luck of the draw. This randomness adds a layer of constant dread that keeps the pages turning. Furthermore, Clement excels at portraying friendship that feels painfully human. The relationship between Matye and Lorena (Lo) isn’t a static, idealized bond; instead, we see the realistic “cracks” even before the life-or-death game begins, stemming from their newly differing social classes and the subtle jealousies that arise when society treats the two best friends as unequal, when they have no idea what the girls are really experiencing. Seeing how these pre-existing tensions are magnified by the deadly stakes of the den makes for a gripping emotional core throughout the story.

Where It Fell Short If there is one minor critique from me, it lies in the characterizations of the villains. At times, their motivations felt a bit thin, largely because we never get to see the world through their eyes, only the heroines’. However, because the story is so focused on the intimate perspectives of the two protagonists, this didn’t detract significantly from my enjoyment - the girls’ own journeys were more than enough to carry the weight of the plot for me. Additionally, I could see how some might feel the book has a slow start as the world is established, but once things begin, the momentum picks up rapidly and never lets go.

Craft and Writing Quality For a debut novel, the worldbuilding and thematic execution are remarkably sophisticated! Clement creates an immersive atmosphere in Ciudad Milagro, using the setting to explore the harsh realities of a rigid class system. The way the book handles these themes is particularly clever: we see how the girls are treated by society based on their status before the game, but once they enter the den, the playing field is tilted in a way that creates a fascinating new dynamic while never letting go of the inter-class tensions. The writing effectively shows how desperation can force even the most heroic characters to confront their own dark sides, making for a story that feels both magical and grounded in raw, human truth.

Audio and Narration Quality Both narrators did a fantastic job! One thing I wanted to note is the use of Spanish words and phrases throughout the novel. The narrators did a great job of conveying the emotion behind the Spanish words and phrases, so I didn’t feel like I really missed anything, but unfortunately my Spanish is pretty rusty and since I didn’t have the word directly in front of me to look up a translation, I didn’t know exactly what was being said. This isn’t a critique, just something to keep in mind if choosing the audiobook version. The Spanish is sprinkled throughout the novel, so I didn't feel like me not knowing every translation took anything away from my enjoyment.

Final Thoughts & Opinions Fortune’s Kiss is a standout YA dark fantasy that deserves much more recognition than it currently has! Even as an adult listener, I never questioned if I wasn’t the right audience for this story, but I also have been able to recommend it to my friends who have older children. I’m not the best of judging what’s appropriate for certain age ranges, but I would compare the violence level in this book to be similar to The Hunger Games. I’ll also say if you loved the moral ambiguity and systemic critique of The Hunger Games you will find a lot to love here particularly with the fresh, culturally rich flavor that Fortune’s Kiss offers. The ending was incredibly satisfying for me and felt earned. While this functions perfectly as a standalone story, the worldbuilding is so solid that I would eagerly jump back in if the author ever decided to write a sequel. This is a brilliant debut from Amber Clement, and I highly recommend picking it up!

Scoring Breakdown Personal Enjoyment: 5 Overall Execution: 5 Craft & Writing Quality: 4.5 Characters: 4.5 Plot: 5 Final Score: 4.8