Heads up — this is a preview. Immortal Game is a brand-new release (expected August 2026), so this is a most-anticipated spotlight based on the official synopsis and early advance reviews, not a full verdict from settled reader consensus. We’ll update it with a complete review once it’s widely read.
Why it’s anticipated: A #1 New York Times bestselling author, a deadly fae chess tournament, and a sapphic rivals-to-lovers romance — Immortal Game is one of the most-hyped WLW romantasy releases of mid-2026.
Best for: Fans of fae fantasy, high-stakes competition plots, and slow-burn rivals-to-lovers.
Expected heat: 🌶🌶 (romantasy tension; we’ll confirm on release)
Author track record: Allison Saft, #1 NYT bestseller (A Far Wilder Magic, A Fragile Enchantment)
Tropes: Rivals-to-lovers · fae / Otherworld fantasy · high-stakes tournament · a wish worth everything · sapphic romance
Immortal Game by Allison Saft is a marquee entry in 2026’s sapphic romantasy wave — and one readers have been counting down to. If “lesbians playing high-stakes chess against the fae” sounds like your ideal read, here’s everything we know so far.
What Is Immortal Game About?
Shea Fury is a chess grandmaster with one all-consuming goal. Six years ago, her sister Aideen was stolen away by the High King of the Otherworld, ruler of the treacherous land of the fae, and carried beyond the Iron Veil that separates the human world from theirs. Rescuing her has been an impossible dream — until an invitation arrives.
Shea is summoned to a once-in-a-lifetime chess tournament in the Otherworld, where the winner may ask the High King to grant a single wish. It is finally her chance to win her sister back. But entering and winning are two very different things: dark magic lurks everywhere, and her cutthroat opponents will bend every rule to claim their own wishes.
Among those opponents is Fae Princess Ciara — an old chess rival with whom Shea shares a long, charged history. As the tournament tightens and oaths bind tighter, the rivalry between them becomes something far more dangerous to Shea’s heart. As the cover tagline puts it: love is the ultimate gambit.
Why Immortal Game Is One of 2026’s Most Anticipated Sapphic Reads
- ✓ A powerhouse author. Allison Saft is a #1 New York Times bestseller known for atmospheric, romance-forward fantasy — a big reason expectations are so high.
- ✓ A genuinely fresh hook. Competitive chess as the engine of a fae fantasy is unusual, and early advance readers say the tournament is more gripping than it sounds on paper.
- ✓ Rivals-to-lovers with real history. Shea and Ciara have played each other for years, so the intimacy of the rivalry is baked in from the start.
- ✓ High, personal stakes. Shea isn’t chasing power — she’s trying to save her sister, which gives every match emotional weight.
- ✓ Sapphic romantasy at the perfect moment. It lands right as WLW fae fantasy is one of the genre’s hottest categories.
Tropes & Themes at a Glance
| Element | In This Book |
|---|---|
| Subgenre | Sapphic romantasy / fae fantasy |
| Central pairing | Shea (grandmaster) x Ciara (fae princess) |
| Setting | The Otherworld, beyond the Iron Veil |
| Core trope | Rivals-to-lovers |
| Central plot | A deadly chess tournament for one wish |
| Expected heat | 🌶🌶 (to be confirmed) |
| Release | New for 2026 |
How Spicy Is Immortal Game?
Expected heat: 🌶🌶. Based on Allison Saft’s previous romantasy and the rivals-to-lovers setup, expect a slow-burn, tension-forward romance rather than an explicit one — but since the book is brand new, we’ll confirm the exact heat level once it’s widely read. Advance readers highlight the intimacy of the chess rivalry more than on-page spice.
What to expect: This is fantasy with fae bargains, dangerous magic, and high-stakes competition, so anticipate peril and cutthroat scheming alongside the romance. As always with a new release, check content warnings on Goodreads once early readers post them.
Who Should Watch for This Book?
Add it to your list if you want:
- ✓ Sapphic fae romantasy from a bestselling author
- ✓ A rivals-to-lovers arc with genuine shared history
- ✓ A clever, high-stakes competition plot
- ✓ Slow-burn tension over explicit spice
Maybe hold off if:
- ✗ You prefer contemporary romance over fantasy world-building
- ✗ You want a high-heat, explicit read above all
- ✗ You’d rather wait for full reader reviews before committing
While you wait, explore more 2026 romantasy in our best sapphic romances of 2026 masterlist, or dive into The Book of Blood and Roses for another new sapphic fantasy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Immortal Game a sapphic romance?
Yes. The central romance is between Shea Fury and Fae Princess Ciara, longtime chess rivals — it’s a WLW rivals-to-lovers arc set inside a fae fantasy.
Is it out yet?
It’s a brand-new 2026 release. Because it’s so new, this page is a most-anticipated preview based on the official synopsis and advance reviews; we’ll expand it into a full review as more readers weigh in.
Do I need to read Allison Saft’s other books first?
No — Immortal Game is a standalone fantasy. If you enjoy it, her earlier romantasy titles like A Far Wilder Magic and A Fragile Enchantment are great next reads.
Do I need to understand chess to enjoy it?
According to early readers, no. The chess matches are written for tension and atmosphere — the feel of the game and the mind games between players — rather than move-by-move detail, so non-players can follow along.
Is it standalone or a series?
Early information points to a standalone fantasy, which is great if you want a complete story in one book rather than a multi-volume commitment.
If You’re Excited for Immortal Game, Read These Next
- The Book of Blood and Roses by Annie Summerlee — another new 2026 sapphic fantasy.
- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon — epic sapphic fantasy on a grand scale.
- Best Sapphic Romances of 2026 (So Far) — our verified mid-year masterlist.
- Enemies-to-Lovers Sapphic Romance — more rivals-to-lovers tension.
- Bone of My Bone by Johanna van Veen — for darker, atmospheric 2026 sapphic fantasy.
The Bottom Line
Immortal Game is shaping up to be one of 2026’s standout sapphic romantasy releases: a bestselling author, an inventive fae-tournament premise, and a rivals-to-lovers romance with real history behind it. It’s a strong add to your to-be-read list — and we’ll update this page with a full verdict once it’s in more readers’ hands.