Duty. Loyalty. Can it be enough to save them and the kingdom of Bachusa?
Sent to the palace as a child, armed with only a hardened heart, Alzerion must navigate his new life. Frustration emerges amidst his daily tasks and rumors of a rebellion. Taken by the leader of the rebellion, Alzerion realizes the forces at play and the lengths they will go to get what they want.
Can he rid them of the slithering darkness running deep within the kingdom? Alzerion must use his charm and wit to defy the odds and his fate that is tied to another. Battling his inner demons as his schemes come to a head. The struggles are not over as he must battle his head and heart to stop the rebellion. With the fate of Bachusa in his hands, Alzerion and the Royal Army defend the kingdom; but success could come at a cost.
The author clearly knew the plot she wanted to portray when writing, especially seeing as this is the first book in a supposed series. You can very much feel the heart that went into writing this. However, it's not as easily portrayed to the reader, leaving them questioning what's going on during several moments. This could have used a few more drafts and editing to help properly show off the world that she's creating. I wish the author the best on future projects.
DNF at chapter 18. I really pushed myself to get there, and looking ahead at the length of chapter 20, I just couldn't listen to it anymore. The writing is really juvenile, and there's been some creepy Jacob/Renesmee vibes this whole book, but it's getting really bad now. I just can't do the age gap thing when one of them is still a child.
As the author I know you may think I would gush about the book. This is a second edition of Binding Fate. I took the earlier reviews to heart and then made this version better. It has coming of age vibes and a sweet love story subplot. Think classic royalty with a dash of the real world and a helping of magic to stir the plot of what’s happening in Bachusa. I hope you’ll love it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it.
👉Talking about the title of the book, the title of the book is really so interesting to read.
👉The cover is appealing and attractive as well.Writing style is appreciable .This book is very well written. The story is engaging and transports the reader to an exciting place with adventures galore! .It kept me interested through each chapter.Alzerion never felt such agony, such uncertainty, such heartache. This would be the hardest life-changing decision yet, but what could be done? He vowed to protect Princess Aironell, but at what cost? Torn...will he set aside long-held loyalties to the Crown and give in to the Rebellion, or will his fate be aligned with the Crown’s forever?
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Initially captivated with its atmosphere, world, and characters. The setup promises a journey filled with potential and depth.
However, as the story progresses the narrative begins to feel repetitive. Unfortunately, I decided to DNF after the 35% mark after a month of trying to finish the book. The plot seems to circle without significant advancement, creating a sense of stagnation. Additionally, the writing style didn't quite convince me to keep reading. While it might resonate with some readers, I found it lacked the compelling pull needed to sustain my interest through the slower-paced sections.
Despite these challenges, the book's atmospheric qualities and initial character might still appeal to readers who enjoy a more leisurely exploration of a fantasy world. However, those seeking a quicker, more dynamic plot progression and a gripping writing style might find it less satisfying.
I've been trying to figure out how to review Binding Fate. You can tell that Rose had a lot of things she wanted to include and knows where she wants it to go, but the road there is bumpy. It felt like there were limited descriptions of the physical environment. I still don't really know what the locations or characters look like, and that made it harder for me to picture the actions. The relationship dynamics and reactions characters had to events were also very strange to me. There is a significant age gap situation, exacerbated by how the characters first meet, but that is not really addressed. At one point, a character says something about not being able to shake the ick, and unfortunately, I felt the same, but for different reasons.
Alzerion’s world is turned upside down when he’s captured by the rebels. He discovers he’s a pawn in a deadly game but he’s not powerless. Loyalty clashes with betrayal. Can Alzerion be a savior or will he pay the ultimate cost?
Binding Fate is a gripping young adult romantasy with flawless world building. The stakes are high, and these characters will rip your heart out. Stevie Marie narrates this epic story with aplomb. I couldn’t stop listening and stayed up until 3 am to finish it. Another brilliant romantasy audiobook by Stevie Marie. She’s quickly becoming my favorite narrator.
This was a cute book for a younger YA audience! The premise of the book gave me big Sleeping Beauty vibes. A young boy grows up being tasked with the job of being his princess’s guardian and friend. She gets sent away when the kingdom falls into some turmoil to be raised by castle servants in another city. The boy and the girl are reunited when she comes of age and has to return to her kingdom and that’s when the real magic begins! The romance is sweet and the story is fun. I think the book could have gone through another round of editing, but if you can look past that I think you’ll enjoy it!
This one had an intriguing setup — duty, loyalty, rebellion, and a character torn between heart and honor. I really liked the political tension and the idea of a kingdom corrupted from within, but the story felt a bit uneven in pacing. There were moments full of promise and emotion, but others that dragged or left me wanting more depth from the characters.
Alzerion’s inner struggle and sense of duty were interesting, but I found myself wishing for a stronger emotional connection to really feel the stakes. Still, there’s definite potential here, especially for readers who enjoy fantasy built around loyalty, war, and personal redemption.
This is the start of what could be a sweet series for middle school and older readers. The book lacks some needed polish, but the story is one that will capture the heart of most young readers. There is some mention of magical ability, but it is rarely experienced for the reader to get a good understanding of the extent of what the magic or powers can do. Decent characters and a somewhat familiar storybook plotline would be enjoyable for young readers.
The ending of this book really left me wanting more! This is my second time reading Binding Fate, and the detailed description and character development left me wanting more. I can't wait for the second book of The Fates Align Duology. The description of the setting and characters is extremely strong and truly allows the reader to paint an accurate picture in his or her head. The fantasy of the magic is alluring, and I can't wait to read more.
"Binding Fate" is a delightful journey that beautifully intertwines magic and romance. I felt a personal connection with the characters, especially Princess Aironell, as she navigates her destiny amidst royal expectations. The world-building is enchanting, though I wished for deeper exploration of the magic system. Overall, this book left me eager for the next installment in the series, as the ending was both surprising and satisfying.
I gave it a three-star rating, because I felt the writing could have done with more editing in many parts, but I must say I enjoyed its likeable characters, especially the brave and courtly Alzerion, and the lovely, headstrong Aironell. Another point in this book’s favour is the author’s breezy writing style which makes it a book that can be finished within days, if not hours, on a beach or a plane. So if you like sweet fantasy coming-of-age stories that can be read without having to puzzle over convoluted plots or magic systems, then this is one for you.
A sweet fantasy that immerses readers in the intricate world of Bachusa, where duty and rebellion collide. Following Alzerion, a palace-raised warrior entangled in political intrigue and a burgeoning romance, the story explores themes of loyalty, inner conflict, and the struggle against a looming darkness. Vivid world-building and compelling character dynamics make it a memorable read for fans of romantasy and courtly drama.
SUCH A DIFFICULT READ. so many grammatical mistakes and it drove me insane! the plot was too slow and then skipped so many key moments that i wish the writer would have cared for more. i think the ending is ridiculous and the main story line could have gone an entirely different route to be more understandable and enjoyable i almost DNF’d this book at 20 pages in..
Book 1 of a duology - starts off a little slow with not much world building. I’m hoping for more magic in the second book and more backstory for character development. BUT — I like where this is going.
The main FMC is a princess who is protected by a guardian and he quickly evolves from friend to lover. It’s a coming of age romance, YA fantasy with quite the plot twist toward the end. Looking forward to book 2!
This book had so much missing from it. So much empty space with many questions unanswered and missing Aironell growing up. It was all of a sudden she was grown up and in love with someone she never really knew. I will say the last chapter was good and sad
3/5 STARS! This is a fun young adult read. Highly recommend the audiobook. The plot is a unique take on magic & monarchy & I liked the characters. Its a lightweight read, but has some really cool ideas going for it. Really excited to see how book 2 turns out.
3.5 stars- I received this ARC. I found the beginning quite slow, although I did like the plot and saw where the story was going. I simply did not like the idea of Aironell and Alzerion liking each other/being together, considering he was her protector and sort of like a babysitter when she was a child. It just felt weird to me.. and I think because of that, I didn’t feel the connection between them and was not rooting for them, simply because of the age gap/history between them. But if you don’t mind that, I’m sure you’d enjoy it. Aside from their relationship, I enjoyed the book more once the plot picked up and we got to see some action/fighting. This part was enjoyable for me, but I would have wished to see more of that magical element (ex.Aironell using her powers more outside of just the fighting scenes). I think that would be cool considering it was mentioned that she does use them ordinarily and was practicing them. I hope to see more of that magic and fantasy element in the second book! But overall, I think this was a nice delve into some fantasy and romance, with a good plot, and you should give it a try!
I follow the author on Instagram and she recently posted about the book being free on Amazon, so I decided to download it.
I agree with another user's review about Binding Fate needing a few more drafts and editing which would of helped make this story stronger.
I found the writing quite awkward at times which made it quite hard for me to get truly into it. Sometimes sentences were repetitive such as "Castro was an eighteen-year-old who showed great promise. Alzerion especially pushed him because he thought Castro showed great promise."
I also felt like the dialogue was too general so characters to me were quite hard to distinguish from each other as they all talked the same way.
I would have liked to have learned more about Aironell's training in magic as she grew up but it wasn't mentioned much until she was finally 16, then she tells the King and Queen that she has been practicing. It would have been really interesting to learn what kind of magic she has and what she could use it for.
The book however did pull together at the end and I genuinely didn't expect the twist.
This is a great book. I don't usually read fantasy that much it was worth. It felt like a mix of fairy tales and a love story between a knight and a princess. Alzerion was a very strong character, had a rough childhood, then got work in a palace, Favored by the queen and king, took pride in his work, and his love for the princess. He sacrificed so much to keep her safe. I love that Aironell was raised in a world like ours before she returned to her magical world. It felt like I was reading about sleeping beauty a little but it was what made it exciting. I love that the necklace is what connected them both. And I love their kiss scene because it seemed magical with their necklaces connecting, and flashes of light making the kiss like shooting stars. I cried when Arionell died at the end, I don't usually do that but I did. I was so mad, I wanted them to have a happy ending with each other. The queen and king seem like great rulers and good people, it made me wish I had parents like them. Isabella and Quairken were great parents to Arionell. I am happy to know they will have another child to raise. I recommend this both if you love fantasy, romance, war, kidnapping, and magic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The ending of this book really left me wanting more! This is my second time reading Binding Fate, and the detailed description and character development left me wanting more. I can't wait for the second book of The Fates Align Duology. The description of the setting and characters is extremely strong and truly allows the reader to paint an accurate picture in his or her head. The fantasy of the magic is alluring, and I can't wait to read more.
I have never really been into Fantasy books but the summary for this one definitely caught my eye. I was not sorry. From the moment you start reading until the last page the storyline hooks you in. It is filled with twists and turns that keep you guessing. I felt a personal connection to the book and I hope this author writes more. I highly recommend if you like a wonderful storyline with a little mystery and characters you will fall in love with!