If you love fantasy books where heroes are tested, rivals clash, and survival comes down to wit, courage, or sheer stubbornness, you’re in the right place. Today we’re diving into fantasy books filled with games, trials, and competitions. And of course, all are no-spice or low-spice picks!
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👉 All books I feature are no spice or low spice—never explicit.
Fantasy competitions are some of my favorite tropes. Whether it’s a deadly magical tournament, a clever set of riddles, or a royal trial with everything on the line, these high-stakes moments bring out the best (and sometimes worst!) in characters. They push them to grow, forge unexpected alliances, and fight for what truly matters.
If you’ve been craving stories with intense challenges but want to keep things clean or low-spice, this list is for you. Below you’ll find books featuring arena battles, magical games, courtly contests, and survival trials, all packed with tension, adventure, and heart.
Let’s dive into fantasy books with games and trials (and no spice!). This post is regularly updated, so check back often for new high-stakes reads! Last updated: November 2025
Fantasy Books With Games and Trials:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The one that started it all… A brutal, iconic survival competition where Katniss must outsmart the Capitol and stay alive. Plot-forward with a clean romance subplot. Available on Kindle Unlimited: ❌
The Selection by Kiera Cass
Less deadly trial, more cut-throat competition. Think The Bachelor, if the bachelor was a prince and the prize was to become a princess. Available on Kindle Unlimited: ❌
Traitor Wolf by Leia Stone
A wolf-shifter competition with intense trials, political scheming, and a determined heroine. Available on Kindle Unlimited: ✅
The Princess Trials by Cordelia K. Castel
Think The Selection meets The Hunger Games—a deadly competition to become queen in a dangerous dystopian world. Available on Kindle Unlimited: ✅
Fortress of Blood and Power by Rachel L. Schade
A magical contest, court intrigue, and deadly challenges inside a fortress where nothing is safe.Available on Kindle Unlimited: ✅
Pippa of Lauramore by Shari L. Tapscott
A charming fantasy with a lighthearted tournament of suitors competing for the princess’s hand. Clean romance, sweet vibes. Available on Kindle Unlimited: ❌
The Shadow Heir by C.F.E. Black
A royal competition blended with magic, mystery, and tense political trials. Available on Kindle Unlimited: ✅
Ice Crown by K.L. Moody
A kingdom-wide contest for the crown filled with secrets, sabotage, and survival tasks. Available on Kindle Unlimited: ❌
Dueling the Suitors by Karen Daliath
A clean, fun fantasy where suitors must compete in formal trials to win the heroine’s hand—witty, sweet, and competition-heavy. Available on Kindle Unlimited: ✅
The Assassin Bride by Anastasis Blythe
Intense training, dangerous trials, and a heroine forced to compete for her life. Romantic tension but no spice. Available on Kindle Unlimited: ✅
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Quarter Labrynth by Victoria McCombs
A puzzling, trap-filled labyrinth challenge with riddles, stakes, and magical danger. Available on Kindle Unlimited: ✅
To Best the Boys by Mary Weber
A girl sneaks into a deadly, male-only competition full of science, traps, and magic. Clean YA. Available on Kindle Unlimited: ❌
The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith (Low Spice)
A magical competition wrapped in old-world fae vibes and mystery. Available on Kindle Unlimited: ✅
Powerless by Lauren Roberts
A deadly competition in a kingdom ruled by “Elites.” Romance subplot but fade-to-black / low spice. Available on Kindle Unlimited: ✅
War Hour by Lauren Loscig
High-stakes military trials and survival competitions, plus political tension. Available on Kindle Unlimited: ✅
The Queen’s Device by Brittany Mack
A magical competition full of sabotage, alliances, and clever problem-solving. Available on Kindle Unlimited: ✅
Fortified by V. Romas Burton
A faith-based, clean fantasy featuring trials that test courage, loyalty, and heart. Available on Kindle Unlimited: ✅
Creatures of Chaos by Julie Hall
A vicious supernatural competition where heroes are born and riches are won. Available on Kindle Unlimited: ❌
🎯 Final Thoughts
If you love fantasy stories where characters are pushed to their limits—physically, mentally, and magically—then books with trials and competitions are the perfect reading rabbit hole to fall into! I hope this list helps you find your next clean or low-spice fantasy adventure with all the tension and high-stakes drama you love.
📚 Before You Go…
Be sure to check out the Clean Fantasy Romance Library, where you’ll find curated recommendations for no-spice fantasy romance across tons of your favorite tropes. New books are added regularly, so you can always find something magical to read next! Want to be the first to know when new titles drop? Sign up for my newsletter!
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