This ‘Off Campus’ Meets ‘Fourth Wing’ Fantasy Book Is Begging for a TV Adaptation

The sports romance genre has taken television audiences by storm lately. Much of the success of these shows stems from the books they’re based on. First, we had the buzz surrounding HBO Max’s Heated Rivalry, based on the Game Changers series by Rachel Reid. Then, Off Campus put a different spin on the adrenaline-filled world of hockey, adapted from the book series of the same name by Elle Kennedy. While fans wait for both shows to return with their second seasons, there’s one new sports fantasy romance that combines Off Campus‘ fake-dating trope and the competitive dynamic at the heart of Heated Rivalry with the fantastical world of Fourth Wing — and it’s totally perfect for a television adaptation.

What Is ‘The Winged Game’ About?

The Winged Game, by Sophie Kim, revolves around the sport of carriwitchet (think Quidditch, but with dragons, wyverns, and stymphalian birds), and its two most famous players, Taissa Cho and Kion Locke. They used to be each other’s biggest rivals in the sport, but when Kion accuses Taissa of cheating, she’s subsequently kicked out of the league. When the book starts, Taissa has lost everything, but her life gets flipped upside down when Kion comes back into the picture. His team has experienced two years of embarrassing losses, and he needs to recruit the once-brilliant Taissa to help. The team’s publicist insists that the best PR would be to pretend they’re dating, but the only problem is that the two hate each other with an intense, fiery passion. Once Taissa and Kion reluctantly agree to the plan, of course, sparks start to fly as they become closer.

This plot would be exciting enough for a romance novel, but the fantasy aspect comes into play when the winged animals in the league develop a mysterious and dangerous illness. Taissa and Kion join forces to figure out what might be afflicting the animals, who can communicate with their owners, just like in Fourth Wing. The duo ends up embarking on a perilous journey filled with all types of fantastical figures, including fairies, vampires, werewolves, and demons. Can they figure out how to save both their winged friends and the entire sport of carriwitchet as their fake relationship starts to become all too real?

‘The Winged Game’ TV Adaptation Would Be a Fast-Paced, Fantastical Ride

Image via Penguin Random House

The Winged Game is packed with television-worthy elements, from twists and turns in the storytelling, powerful relationships between the characters, and a fantastical sport that can be brought to life with state-of-the-art CGI and special effects. Of course, the story is built around the enemies-to-lovers and fake-romance tropes, just like in Off Campus. There’s plenty of spicy action, just like in Heated Rivalry, to satisfy viewers who like romance with some heat. And there are fantasy elements, like in Fourth Wing, that would make the series all the more entertaining to watch. It’s easy to see the adaptation being cast with fresh faces, too. Someone like Arden Cho, Lana Condor, or Leah Lewis could play Taissa, while Joshua Bassett, Josh Heuston, or Gavin Leatherwood could take on the raven-haired Kion.

There’s indeed a Fourth Wing adaptation on the way, which could serve as some competition, but that fantasy doesn’t have a relatable, contemporary setting or the sports romance element that The Winged Game does. Fourth Wing has also had a slow start to production, so The Winged Game could easily swoop in and find a devoted audience right away. If nothing else, you should check out the book for yourself so that you can dive right into its thrilling, addictive world while waiting for the adaptation rights to get snatched up.