Immortal Longings (Flesh & False Gods Book 1) by Chloe Gong

Chloe Gong's debut adult fantasy, inspired by Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, unfolds in the kingdom of Talin, where an annual event draws competitors willing to jump between bodies in a deadly quest for riches. Princess Calla Tuoleimi harbors a dark secret—five years ago, she orchestrated a massacre that left her parents dead and the palace empty. Now, in hiding, she plans to finish the job and overthrow the monarchy.

Enter Anton Makusa, an exiled aristocrat deeply in debt and seeking to save his comatose childhood love. As one of the kingdom's best jumpers, he sees the deadly games as his last chance to secure a future. Meanwhile, August, King Kasa's adopted son, seeks to mend Talin's troubles.

Unexpectedly, Calla forms an alliance with Anton, and together with August, their goals diverge in a complex web of loyalties and desires.

As Calla and Anton's partnership deepens, the lines between love and power blur. Calla, facing choices that could alter her fate and the kingdom's destiny, must decide what she truly plays for—her lover or her kingdom.

Gong weaves a tale of political intrigue, ruthless ambition, and the complexities of love, set against the backdrop of a kingdom that demands sacrifice in the pursuit of power. With rich character dynamics and a gripping plot, this epic fantasy explores the price of revenge and the unpredictable nature of alliances in a world where the games of power are played for the highest stakes.