Rachel Menard was born in New Jersey, raised in Arizona, and then relocated to Rhode Island. Throughout her life she has been a barista, college radio DJ, singer in an alt-country band, marketer, designer, and finally, a writer. Her short fiction has been featured on Cast of Wonders and her editorial work has been seen in Writer’s Digest.
Game of Strength and Storm Trailer
The trailer for Game of Strength and Storm is here! Be sure to preorder your copy in time for release on June 7.
About Game of Strength and Storm
Victory is the only option.
Once a year, the Olympian Empresses grant the wishes of ten people selected by a lottery—for a price. Seventeen-year-old Gen, a former circus performer, wants the freedom of her father, who was sentenced to life in prison for murders she knows he didn’t commit. Castor plans to carry the island Arcadia into the future in place of her brother, Pollux, but only after the Empresses force a change in her island’s archaic laws that require a male heir.
To get what they want, Gen and Castor must race to complete the better half of ten nearly impossible labors. They have to catch the fastest ship in the sea, slay the immortal Hydra, defeat a gangster called the Boar, and capture the flesh-eating Mares, among other deadly tasks.
Gen has her magic, her ability to speak to animals, her inhuman strength—and the help of Pollux, who’s been secretly pining for her for years. But Castor has her own gifts: the power of the storms, along with endless coin. Only one can win. The other walks away with nothing—if she walks away at all.
About the Author
Advanced Praise
“[A] fast-paced, magical, action-oriented story with a conclusion that points to more adventures to come.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Fast-paced and full of imagination, this glittering twist on Greek mythology surprised me at every turn. The heroines are brilliant, the tasks are brutal, and I cannot wait to be immersed in the world of Olympia again!” —Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Lunar Chronicles and Heartless
“[A]n intriguing fantasy series starter….Menard’s rapid pace and sympathetic characters make for a sweeping adventure.” —Publishers Weekly
“[A] fast-paced, suspenseful, magical adventure with a satisfying twist on Greek mythology.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Game of Strength and Storm is a spellbinding twist on a classical myth set in a universe teeming with diverse creatures, people, and cultures, while drawing from both the best and worst of our own world. The pages flew by and I can’t wait for more!” —Erin Beaty, author of The Traitor’s Kiss
“Evocative magic, a high-stakes competition, and an ending that will leave readers ready for more. Game of Strength and Storm has it all!” —Joelle Charbonneau, New York Times best-selling author of The Testing
“What a magical Greek mythology retelling! Led by fierce female characters and set in a vividly colorful and wildly imaginative world, Game of Strength and Storm is bursting with action, slow-burn romance, and heart.” —Laura Rueckert, author of A Dragonbird in the Fern
“Game of Strength and Storm is fantasy adventure on a grand scale, with exhilarating spins on myths and classic tropes. Menard’s creative world-building, animal companions, and eccentric cast make this book a heck of a lot of fun.” —Claire Winn, author of City of Shattered Light