Review: The Game Weavers by Rebecca Zahabi

In this compelling novel we follow the life of Seojun Kuroaku, adopted alongside his brother Minjun, from an orphanage in South Korea. From a young age, Seo has excelled in Twine, the popular, but high-stakes, national sport. Competing alongside some of the world’s best players, Seo crafts fierce creatures to battle his opponents from across the globe, as thousands watch.

Living in a conservative society, Seo is outed by the media, causing great outrage in the Twine community. As Seo struggles to deal with the aftermath with the help of Minjun and his partner Jack, he must also prepare to play one of his toughest matches yet.

This book is written with a multi-narrative, which really enables us to identify with each character as the story unravels. Seo is a reserved and unrevealing character, and this leads to frustration from the other characters as they try to understand what he is thinking. Minjun has a very strong relationship with his brother, and their love is an important theme throughout the book. We also have the contrast of the confusing, complex relationship between Seo and Jack as they both try to understand their feelings for each other.

The Game Weavers is an intriguing tale that explores love, passion, and the struggle with identity, as well as dealing with topics like homophobia and sexism. It blends our world with an exciting, futuristic society, making it a great read for teenagers and young adults.

Brónagh Davis, teen reviewer