“Chess opens a door between two souls.”
That line lives at the heart of Immortal Game by Allison Saft — and it’s exactly what this book does. It opens a door. Step through it and you’re no longer in the ordinary world. You’re in the Otherworld, where the Fae are immortal, the magic hums beneath every breath, and Mortals are allowed to cross the veil only once every hundred years… to play a game of chess that could cost them everything.
I am not your typical fantasy reader. I don’t usually gravitate toward Fae courts and ancient magic systems. And yet? I was completely swept away. Allison Saft builds a world that feels lush and dangerous and achingly alive. The Otherworld isn’t just a setting — it pulses. The Fae cannot lie. The landscape shifts with thought. Magic is woven into speech, into bargains, into love. And at the center of it all is the Immortal Game, where chess becomes more than strategy — it becomes fate.
The characters are what truly anchored me.
Shea, a chess prodigy, is driven by fierce, almost desperate love for her sister Aideen. Every move she makes — on the board and off — is shaped by that devotion.
Daniil, brooding and sharp-tongued, carries his own complicated loyalty to his sister. His seriousness hides something tender, and I found myself softening toward him with every chapter.
Ciara, the Fae princess who adores everything mortal, brings spark and warmth into a realm that could easily feel cold.
And then there is Midir, the Fae King — immortal, powerful, and in love with Aideen enough to steal her away beyond the veil.
As for Fuamnach… trust me. You’ll want to meet her yourself.
What makes this story so compelling is how these characters — from different worlds, with different loyalties — collide over the chessboard. The relationships layer and tangle in ways that feel real and earned. Alliances shift. Motives blur. Love becomes both weapon and shield.
And the chess? It’s brilliant. Whether Allison Saft is secretly a grandmaster or simply did amazing research, she makes the game feel electric. The terminology, the strategy, the references to real-life masters — it’s all woven into the narrative so seamlessly that it never feels like a lecture. It feels like tension. Like you’re holding your breath between moves. I actually pulled out my old chess set just to follow along with some of the moves.
Immortal Game isn’t just about magic or competition. It’s about devotion. About the cost of love. About what we sacrifice for the people who define us. There were twists I didn’t see coming, tenderness that caught me off guard, and moments of quiet heartbreak that lingered.
When I reached the final page, I wasn’t ready to leave the Otherworld — but I was satisfied. The story closes its loops. The emotional threads are honored. Nothing feels rushed or abandoned.
If you’re hesitant about fantasy, let this be your doorway. Walk through "The Veil". Sit at the chessboard. Let Allison Saft show you what happens when strategy meets soul.
Immortal Game by Allison Saft is coming out on August 4th, 2026! Mark your calendars because you won't want to miss this one! (Categorized as YA teen, romance and LGBTQIAP+)
I want to thank St. Martin's Press for sending along an advanced copy for me to read and review. I really enjoyed it.
BTW, Isn't that cover gorgeous!!
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