What do you think?
Rate this book
The Fate of
Evangeline is a cleric at the Church of Stars - an institution dedicated to healing and taking care of the people of Lovern amid a mysterious plague. After being warned that there is a cult infiltrating her beloved home, she starts her investigation. She aims to uncover the truth of who they are and what they want while maintaining her secretive relationship with her childhood friend.
Dianthus, memoryless and with nowhere else to go, has been living with the city's royal family ever since they awoke five months ago, found confused and delirious by the youngest prince. They've become accustomed to the family's lavish lifestyle, ignoring the burden of discovering their past identity in favor of the comfort they offer, but as the days move forward and a courtship with the crown prince begins, they start to find that they can only turn away from themselves for so long.
Harr is a wayward assassin who recently joined a strange circle of collaborators pursuing immortality. Haunted by the memories of her past and profession, she works to find the key to living forever while trying not to lose her head in the process.
The Fate of is the first novel in a seven book series set in a dark fantasy world with inspiration taken from the cosmic horror and gothic genres. It follows three protagonists as they slowly uncover parts of a larger conspiracy that threatens the peace of their city but none of that will matter if they can't overcome themselves.
Dianthus, memoryless and with nowhere else to go, has been living with the city's royal family ever since they awoke five months ago, found confused and delirious by the youngest prince. They've become accustomed to the family's lavish lifestyle, ignoring the burden of discovering their past identity in favor of the comfort they offer, but as the days move forward and a courtship with the crown prince begins, they start to find that they can only turn away from themselves for so long.
Harr is a wayward assassin who recently joined a strange circle of collaborators pursuing immortality. Haunted by the memories of her past and profession, she works to find the key to living forever while trying not to lose her head in the process.
The Fate of is the first novel in a seven book series set in a dark fantasy world with inspiration taken from the cosmic horror and gothic genres. It follows three protagonists as they slowly uncover parts of a larger conspiracy that threatens the peace of their city but none of that will matter if they can't overcome themselves.
476 pages, Paperback
Published July 20, 2023
1 person is currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
J.E. Lynn
3 books12 followersJ.E. Lynn was made in October on an unusually cold Sunday night at two in the morning. They were originally a half-angel, half-demon calico cat, but spontaneously turned into a human being for some reason.
Their favorite food is anything cold that shouldn't be eaten cold.
Their favorite food is anything cold that shouldn't be eaten cold.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Read
September 20, 2023Below is a list of general content warnings for the book:
March 20, 2024
The Fate Of by J. E. Lynn follows the intertwining fates of Evangeline, Dianthus and Harr as they slowly uncover their city’s mysteries. I loved this book! Fair warning for spoilers.
Our main character trio consists of Evangeline, a cleric at the fascinating Church of Stars, who gets caught up in a political conspiracy while fighting for the secrecy of her relationship with the Church’s Archbishop; Dianthus, an amnesiac found by one of the princes of the fairytale-like city of Lovern who finds out their significance for the kingdom’s destiny is far greater than they thought and Harr, a hot-tempered assasin who joins a quest for immortality that leads her metaphorically and literally, into Lovern’s bowels. Their perspectives show the different sides of the city and of the rebellion brewing there. If I had to choose my favourite, it would be a tie between Harr and Eva, since I personally relate to both of them.
I loved picturing the idyllic but depressing clerical lifestyle of Evangeline, and I think the Church of Stars’ doctrine was very intresting, also I loved the shakespearean tragedy-like story of Lucere and Evangeline, and I was on the edge of my seat following Alexandria’s death.
Harr and Glyneth’s dynamic was a breath of fresh air from the high stakes, and her longing of Jouna hit close to the heart (pun intended). I also liked Winter’s character a lot, and seeing her and Harr interact in the final chapters was very nice.
Aster and Rhoswen were also interesting characters, along with Dianthus and their connection to the famed architect Hyacinth.
The themes of this book were well integrated into the story, which tacked issues like mortality, good vs. evil, belief, identity and of course fate. One of my favourite motifs was the heart, that appears in each of the trio’s story somehow. Most of my favourite books break genre barriers in some form, and The Fate Of did too: with a high fantasy setting, subversions of this genre and elements of cosmic horror and touches of romance while being in essence a thriller and character drama.
Aside from a few stiff dialogue bits I liked the prose and descriptions a lot, and even if the pacing was slower the story had a lot of suspense and action.
I sat like a detective pieceing bits of information and lore all the way to the end, the ballroom scene shook me into the next Saturday and I can’t wait for the continuation of the series, since the ending left me very curious (presicely, what’s the deal with the Father of all Vermin, what actually happens to Rhoswen and Lucere and how’s Vera’s fate going to end).
I knew I was going to give The Fate Of five stars since the first chapters, and I’m marking my calendar for the next release in the series, Crown Of The Abyss!
Our main character trio consists of Evangeline, a cleric at the fascinating Church of Stars, who gets caught up in a political conspiracy while fighting for the secrecy of her relationship with the Church’s Archbishop; Dianthus, an amnesiac found by one of the princes of the fairytale-like city of Lovern who finds out their significance for the kingdom’s destiny is far greater than they thought and Harr, a hot-tempered assasin who joins a quest for immortality that leads her metaphorically and literally, into Lovern’s bowels. Their perspectives show the different sides of the city and of the rebellion brewing there. If I had to choose my favourite, it would be a tie between Harr and Eva, since I personally relate to both of them.
I loved picturing the idyllic but depressing clerical lifestyle of Evangeline, and I think the Church of Stars’ doctrine was very intresting, also I loved the shakespearean tragedy-like story of Lucere and Evangeline, and I was on the edge of my seat following Alexandria’s death.
Harr and Glyneth’s dynamic was a breath of fresh air from the high stakes, and her longing of Jouna hit close to the heart (pun intended). I also liked Winter’s character a lot, and seeing her and Harr interact in the final chapters was very nice.
Aster and Rhoswen were also interesting characters, along with Dianthus and their connection to the famed architect Hyacinth.
The themes of this book were well integrated into the story, which tacked issues like mortality, good vs. evil, belief, identity and of course fate. One of my favourite motifs was the heart, that appears in each of the trio’s story somehow. Most of my favourite books break genre barriers in some form, and The Fate Of did too: with a high fantasy setting, subversions of this genre and elements of cosmic horror and touches of romance while being in essence a thriller and character drama.
Aside from a few stiff dialogue bits I liked the prose and descriptions a lot, and even if the pacing was slower the story had a lot of suspense and action.
I sat like a detective pieceing bits of information and lore all the way to the end, the ballroom scene shook me into the next Saturday and I can’t wait for the continuation of the series, since the ending left me very curious (presicely, what’s the deal with the Father of all Vermin, what actually happens to Rhoswen and Lucere and how’s Vera’s fate going to end).
I knew I was going to give The Fate Of five stars since the first chapters, and I’m marking my calendar for the next release in the series, Crown Of The Abyss!
October 23, 2024
My rating: 4.5 Stars
I had a great time reading it!
This book has three different POVs that only very slowly start to intersect and I liked all three of them. But especially Dianthus. I love them.
I was also a bit confused for the most part but in a good way. I was fully invested.
I also really enjoyed the writing which I didn't quite expect to starting out but hearing so many of the characters actual thoughts was fun. It made me love these idiots even more.
I also very much enjoyed the comedy in it.
Don't take this review as this book being a happy little fantasy book please. There are definitely some darker and horror aspects to it.
The one downside is me being an idiot and not doing my homework. Thought this was a standalone. Guess I'm gonna patiently wait for the next book…
I had a great time reading it!
This book has three different POVs that only very slowly start to intersect and I liked all three of them. But especially Dianthus. I love them.
I was also a bit confused for the most part but in a good way. I was fully invested.
I also really enjoyed the writing which I didn't quite expect to starting out but hearing so many of the characters actual thoughts was fun. It made me love these idiots even more.
I also very much enjoyed the comedy in it.
Don't take this review as this book being a happy little fantasy book please. There are definitely some darker and horror aspects to it.
The one downside is me being an idiot and not doing my homework. Thought this was a standalone. Guess I'm gonna patiently wait for the next book…
December 17, 2023
A perfect blend of comedy and serious, character-driven moments
This book has such a wide array of intriguing and endearing characters that are impossible to not fall in love with. They’re so well written! From the (intentional) awkward dialogues to the climactic battles scenes and heart-wrenching moments, this book is amazing. It’s clear that the author spent a ton of time planning out each interaction in how the story unfolds, the surprising plot twists, and how the world works. I’m so excited to read the rest of of the series.
Fun fact, my favorite line in the book is when Dianthus, one of the three main characters, says something to the effect of, “No! I shouldn’t be thinking about kissing a murderer.” The comedy is peak.
This book has such a wide array of intriguing and endearing characters that are impossible to not fall in love with. They’re so well written! From the (intentional) awkward dialogues to the climactic battles scenes and heart-wrenching moments, this book is amazing. It’s clear that the author spent a ton of time planning out each interaction in how the story unfolds, the surprising plot twists, and how the world works. I’m so excited to read the rest of of the series.
Fun fact, my favorite line in the book is when Dianthus, one of the three main characters, says something to the effect of, “No! I shouldn’t be thinking about kissing a murderer.” The comedy is peak.
April 25, 2024
The Fate Of was a wild ride full of twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. The setting reminds me of Dark Souls in all the right ways – a perfect mix of dark fantasy elements that made me keep wanting to read more. Looking for horror, court intrigue, conspiracies, and nuanced character interactions? This book is an excellent choice. It’s definitely a character-driven novel, and it was easy to immediately fall in love with the characters. They’re all fascinating with unique perspectives and personalities. I could not get enough of the banter between Harr and Glyneth! Can’t wait for book 2.
January 22, 2024
An absolutely fantastic start to a series! The worldbuilding was rich, with even the smallest details carrying strong significance. I had several OH WAIT A MINUTE moments when things easy for a reader to overlook suddenly came back full-force. Definitely a book that will reward re-reading!
With three different POVs to follow, I was heavily invested in all of them and it was exciting to see if or when they would eventually converge. I would call this a character-driven story, and every single one of them endlessly fascinated me.
This book is a frog and I am pointing at it to say “wow”.
With three different POVs to follow, I was heavily invested in all of them and it was exciting to see if or when they would eventually converge. I would call this a character-driven story, and every single one of them endlessly fascinated me.
This book is a frog and I am pointing at it to say “wow”.
April 28, 2024
i found this book on a whim, and it surely did not disappoint! this book is the start of a series and it follows three different people, each living within the country of lovern. the way the story builds upon itself, and connects them together was expertly done. each perspective is unique, and i found myself motivated to keep reading one more chapter, just to loop back around to everyone to see what was going on. the fantasy and political elements have a darkness to them, but it is complemented by the characters themselves. i’m so glad that this is only the beginning!!
January 17, 2025
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book. The worldbuilding and characterization were excellent. The only thing I disliked was that the plot seemed to take a while to get going (it was mostly dialogue in the first half or so without enough action for my tastes). But when the characters started running into each other, things got interesting and the book was difficult to put down. The banter between them--especially assassin Harr and doctor Glyneth--was so entertaining. Dianthus was a truly endearing and fascinating character. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next.
February 5, 2024
This left us aching for its three protagonists by the end of it. If you're not fond of vulgarity, you probably won't like Harr, but I think her harshness gives her character. Setting and character descriptions are light and easy to miss, but the world takes wonderful form after you start to put all the vagaries together.
November 19, 2024
3.25 stars.
This novel follows three primary characters: Evangeline, a cleric with the Church of Stars; Dianthus, who has lost their memories and has been taken in by the royal family; and Harr, an assassin. Evangeline is struggling with a series of mysterious and increasingly violent events at the church, where she is caring for people sick of an unknown illness while worrying about the health of Lucere, the archbishop and her secret lover. Dianthus is avoiding digging into their past, but they are growing closer to the eldest prince in what may be a courtship. Harr, part of an underground group of powerful people, is tasked with a series of assassinations to complete along with a mysterious job into the undercity. Their three paths slowly start to converge, as things are revealed to be more intertwined - and dangerous - than any of them thought.
I really wanted to like this book, and while I had a decent time with it, it fell pretty short of my expectations. I spent most of this book incredibly confused about where things were meant to be going. It very much feels like the author was hinting at things that they knew were part of the larger plan but had failed to adequately address or foreshadow in the text. While I know this is self-published, it desperately needed any sort of editing, and the errors consistently took me out of the story. I liked the way the mystery began to unfold, but again, I wish the foreshadowing had been better. I think this book could do great things with a proper editor - it's a great premise, but it's hard to follow. I do want to see where this story goes, so I will probably still pick up book two when it comes out.
This novel follows three primary characters: Evangeline, a cleric with the Church of Stars; Dianthus, who has lost their memories and has been taken in by the royal family; and Harr, an assassin. Evangeline is struggling with a series of mysterious and increasingly violent events at the church, where she is caring for people sick of an unknown illness while worrying about the health of Lucere, the archbishop and her secret lover. Dianthus is avoiding digging into their past, but they are growing closer to the eldest prince in what may be a courtship. Harr, part of an underground group of powerful people, is tasked with a series of assassinations to complete along with a mysterious job into the undercity. Their three paths slowly start to converge, as things are revealed to be more intertwined - and dangerous - than any of them thought.
I really wanted to like this book, and while I had a decent time with it, it fell pretty short of my expectations. I spent most of this book incredibly confused about where things were meant to be going. It very much feels like the author was hinting at things that they knew were part of the larger plan but had failed to adequately address or foreshadow in the text. While I know this is self-published, it desperately needed any sort of editing, and the errors consistently took me out of the story. I liked the way the mystery began to unfold, but again, I wish the foreshadowing had been better. I think this book could do great things with a proper editor - it's a great premise, but it's hard to follow. I do want to see where this story goes, so I will probably still pick up book two when it comes out.
November 24, 2024
A thoroughly fascinating and exhilarating introduction to the deceptively deep and developed dark fantasy setting of Lovern. Playing with counterintuitive and unexpected ideas regarding the relationship between faith and science, horror both known and unknowable, as well as humanity and mortality, this book and its concepts take over your thoughts before you can even realize what has occurred. Well planned, well thought out, and well executed, this setting has me equal parts overjoyed with what has been given and desperately in need to know more.
All three narrators service the story and worldbuilding in extremely diverse ways that are both natural and immersive. The use of three narrators was also never a chore for the reader, instead helping the book maintain forward momentum any time when the story of one of the narrators needed to slow down. Each of the three characters is fundamentally unique from one another in terms of their experiences, biases, and growth in ways that make them all equally compelling.
The aforementioned growth of Dianthus, Evangeline, and Harr is what makes this book especially compelling and serves as an integral foundation for what is to come in future continuations of this series. The establishment of independence for all three characters in such different ways, found through such different means is an absolute joy to experience.
LGBTQ+ themes are clearly present in a well-handled and dimensional manner. With one non-binary narrator, another narrator whose romantic focus is f/f, and a third of the story centralized on a canonically queer relationship, the author successfully uses diverse gender identities and sexualities in a natural and compelling way. These elements add to the story and serve to develop the character's actions and motivations in realistic ways, rather than existing to exist without consideration of the impact this has on one's own identity and place in society.
The use of comedy is a nice touch that better humanizes the cast. While some are coy and witty, others are bumbling and wholesomely awkward in ways that are just too sweet to not be entertaining. This levity also helps to better strengthen the impact of this work's darker body horror and cosmic horror elements.
I also need to further discuss the clear influence of cosmic horror that has played into this work. It is thrilling to see existential horror and fear of the unknown presented so well in a fantasy setting. The unknown and unanswerable concepts do not take away from the use of more hard worldbuilding concepts but instead add to them, evoking fantastically handled dread and fascination when faced with the story's exploration of alchemy and immortality. There are clear rules to how this world operates that the author has given a lot of thought toward, but a level of incomprehensibility that leaves the reader adrift and unnerved at its every application.
Overall, a genuinely fantastical and alluring work of dark fantasy that leaves you desperate for more. PLEASE GIVE IT A READ!!!
All three narrators service the story and worldbuilding in extremely diverse ways that are both natural and immersive. The use of three narrators was also never a chore for the reader, instead helping the book maintain forward momentum any time when the story of one of the narrators needed to slow down. Each of the three characters is fundamentally unique from one another in terms of their experiences, biases, and growth in ways that make them all equally compelling.
The aforementioned growth of Dianthus, Evangeline, and Harr is what makes this book especially compelling and serves as an integral foundation for what is to come in future continuations of this series. The establishment of independence for all three characters in such different ways, found through such different means is an absolute joy to experience.
LGBTQ+ themes are clearly present in a well-handled and dimensional manner. With one non-binary narrator, another narrator whose romantic focus is f/f, and a third of the story centralized on a canonically queer relationship, the author successfully uses diverse gender identities and sexualities in a natural and compelling way. These elements add to the story and serve to develop the character's actions and motivations in realistic ways, rather than existing to exist without consideration of the impact this has on one's own identity and place in society.
The use of comedy is a nice touch that better humanizes the cast. While some are coy and witty, others are bumbling and wholesomely awkward in ways that are just too sweet to not be entertaining. This levity also helps to better strengthen the impact of this work's darker body horror and cosmic horror elements.
I also need to further discuss the clear influence of cosmic horror that has played into this work. It is thrilling to see existential horror and fear of the unknown presented so well in a fantasy setting. The unknown and unanswerable concepts do not take away from the use of more hard worldbuilding concepts but instead add to them, evoking fantastically handled dread and fascination when faced with the story's exploration of alchemy and immortality. There are clear rules to how this world operates that the author has given a lot of thought toward, but a level of incomprehensibility that leaves the reader adrift and unnerved at its every application.
Overall, a genuinely fantastical and alluring work of dark fantasy that leaves you desperate for more. PLEASE GIVE IT A READ!!!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews