Breaker of Fate

by R.M. Derrick

A thrilling fantasy romance featuring reincarnation, fated mates, LGBTQ+ and plus size representation.

The Weaver-blessed and the Warrior.

A love so intense, it spans lifetimes.

A demon, a dagger, and a deadly betrayal.Derica drifts through a satisfactory, if stagnant, existence in the small farming town of Arlan after her mother’s passing—until a night of fire and revelation prompts her to venture into the larger world. Danger, intrigue, and temptation wait for her.

Beings suffering a mysterious soul affliction haunt Derica’s journey. Justus, a gruff, enigmatic mercenary commander, draws her like a flame but he struggles against their attraction. Secrets swirl around the pair as their past and present tangle. He struggles to forgive and forget what lays behind him. Strange illness and shadowy figures keep thrusting them together. They dance on the edge of a dagger—one misstep from falling.

As their pasts are exposed, and danger circles, their hearts are revealed. Fate has far more in store for Derica and the commander than she realizes, and the truth of their relationship could change their world forever.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Ebooks, LGBT

526 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 2, 2024

About the author

R.M. (Ray to her friends) is a 30-something desert-dweller who believes in the magic of words on a page, the stimulating power of caffeine, and the supreme satisfaction of a HEA.


She lives with her family and adorable pitbull terrier in the Southwestern United States.

You can follow her on Instagram for updates and snippets as she documents her writing journey @rm_derrick.

Reviews

[KMart Vet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Thank you to the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This reminded me of T. Kingfisher's Paladin's Strength, so it's in great company.

I adored the plus-size bisexual FMC representation. Derica is a real person. Not a hero, not a warrior, just a young woman who bakes cakes fated to fall for a Warrior. I loved that she was not some dashing heroine, but also not a damsel. She did what she had to do. I adored her platonic relationship with Reid; they were so tactile and sweet with one another. He is supportive and his family loves her like their own and it was beautiful to read about. I also love the grief that she's dealing with and learning to live with. Wonderful. I also loved the quietly supportive friendship between Justus, Nyle, and Maz. They have one another's backs without question. Though their (Maz) introduction made me yearn for a why-choose, gotta admit.

I also loved world-building with the weaver/loom lore and the Shredded. The biggest problem that I had with this one was that there wasn't enough world-building; it was primarily a story about the relationship between the two main characters and their reincarnation, but I have so. many. questions. The ending was a cliffhanger and I cannot wait for the next one.

I will absolutely be keeping my eye on this series and yearning for more.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow was this a ✨ R I D E ✨
5 ⭐️ & 2 🌶

where do i even start? 🥲
let me just say, when i filled that form to get an arc from ray, i was hoping for a book that promised exactly what the blurb said, the story about a maiden destined to find her soulmate, with a reincarnation subplot and a broody mmc... but boy oh boy was i (kinda) wrong 🥹

let's refresh the tropes, shall we?
🪡 reincarnation
👩‍❤️‍👨 fated mates
💔 grief recovery
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 found family

with a healthy af Plus size MC and LGBTQIA+ rep, what else can we ask for?

the first chapters paint a beautifully well plotted world building, the delicate writing about grief and the journey it takes you through, and then, when you least expect it, the story of the weaver-blessed and the warrior 💔 i've never read such beautifully tragic tale, it was heart breaking, and i loved every moment while reading it ❤️‍🩹

long story short...
i'm obviously not explaining the whole legend to you, it's not a spoiler but the author does a better job than i could ever do so 🤷🏼‍♀️
the weaver (our godly being in the story) threads people's fates into the tapestry of life
when you die, your thread gets rewoven into the tapestry and you begin a new life, another pass on the loom

this might be one of my favorite faiths built into a book, i really need the author to explain how that came to be (really Ray, if you are reading this, i'd love to know how it happened)
the angst of our fmc towards the divinity due to her grief, the way it is a powerful being but are we sure it is the most powerful it exists?

so many thoughts where thought at this point, and obviously, after the legend had been explained and everything started to make sense, i realised i was only 30% in... suspicious 🧐

that meant that there was more to the book that a sad story of two lovers fated to find each other on the loom every time... that had me like mhm 👀 tell me more, and god damn was there more to tell :')

at this point, i do not want to spoil you more about the story itself, but i want to tell you about the characters 💖
Derica is our mmc, striken by grief after loosing her mother and everything she had left in her small village, only left with her best friend Reid and his family.
she decides decides she can't keep going on like that and next to Reid they both pack up and go to their next adventure

i've got this nagging feeling that we don't see her full growth on this book, but of course we see her overcome, or more exactly, learn how to live with her grief and explore the kind of live she wants to have, and whats more important, towards the end we se her standing up for herself and making decisions on her own for what she believes in <3

then on the other side we have our mercenaries 🥹
Commander Hadrian is our mmc and oof, hot damn 🥵 (i'm sorry, but this man's description on the second chapter had me screaming and hyperventilating 😂)
he is broody, serious, with a heart of gold and the most "touch her and you die" attitude you will ever see 🙆🏼‍♀️
his angst at the start of the book towards anything Derica related is jksndcjdfni SO GOOD
i love myself some angst and sassy jealousy, sorry not sorry 😂

poor baby is so split between wanting to save his heart from the pain and also wanting to feel love once more, BUT IT'S SO PAINFUL TO WATCH, i suffered for him, a LOT, and i don't thin it's over 😭

also, theres nothing more sexy than Derica being all straightforward with him, and him having to stop brooding and giving in, like GIVE ME THAT EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK ❤️‍🔥

and then we have the Nyle and Maz 🥹
Nyle is me, i am Nyle 💖 he is a words before fists kinda guy, which is weird for a mercenary tbh :') he is the one that has the calm demeanor the others lack and that scares me, i'm not gonna lie, i hope nothing happens to him on the next books, because i will scream 🥲

and Maz, oh Maz, i had some real good laughs with them 😂
- they are hilarious
- they know too much
- they know that they know too much, so they are cryptic as shit
- and they take no bullshit from anyone
if they like you, good for you, if not, they won't even acknowledge you 😂 i need more stuff about them and i can't wait to see what's in store for them in the next book :')

let's end this review here because i got to excited writing everything and i already made a real effort not to spoil anything :') gotta say that Ray made a beautiful job with her first book and i know it will only get better from here 😌

also, thanks to Ray for the opportunity to read her book before it was out <3 still, bare in mind, my opinions are my own whenever i review anything, and i hope i made you want to pick up this book or at the very least, made you curious about it 😉

[S M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mazolan for king! Take my money!!

Well, first of all, I love Mazolan, and I want to see what kind of heat they're packing. Second, this book made me emotional AND horny, so like, good job ma'am. I really loved this book and if you like that deep dark broody steamy I want you but I can't let myself have you kind of good-good, you should read this damn book!!!

It's starts out in a teensy village at the ass end of nowhere, just a small town girl, living in a lonely world.

Her mother is gone and she feels very disconnected from the world around her. She has found family, ( if I don't see Reid get some in book 2 I will RIOT!!), but her life lacks spice and she's adrift.

Enter - a thick king of a man with muscles on muscles on muscles and those eyes that strip a bitch bare and make her pants fall off. Heeeeyyyooooooo!

There's ancient myths, cursed daggers, soul mates and reincarnation, monsters, redemption, fighting, f---ing ;-), fantasy, demons, sexy silent tattooed men, mercenaries etc.

Its funny, and sweet, and moving and it has great fight scenes and great smut. I can't freaking wait for book 2!

[Cady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to start this review by saying I've been in one hell of a slump this year, and I've struggled to connect with many books that I'm sure are very good. When I was granted this arc, I was beside myself, but I was struggling through another very good book and cut myself a tight deadline.

With that being said. This book hooked me so hard. I stayed up past 1am two midweek nights in a row and am pressuring my friends to read this so we can scream together and speculate wildly. I have insomnia and this book had me so immersed I fell asleep on my kindle for the first time in probably fifteen years.

Oh, the tropes. All my favorites, like it's my birthday. We have big man with big feelings, touch her and you die, and some good old-fashioned brooding to start, but I'd hate to spoil some of the others. The number of times I had to put the book down in sheer excitement should be illegal.

It's also so refreshing to have a comedic character who's not annoying or callous, but I love Maz on every single page. Each of the characters builds the story and has their own charm.

Basically, you can find me frothing at the mouth for the next book. Just read it. This is an excellent debut.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok so i loved all of the characters - Maz was my favorite - honestly who would i be if i didn’t appreciate a non-binary demon anarchist tho?

but with that i also quite liked that Derica wasn’t super prepared for anything that happened to her, she was just a normal ass woman (in most respects) and she had character growth!

Anddd it made me really happy to see a pair of man and woman best friends that not only are fully aware that there’s no romantic feelings between them, but that are also super physically affectionate! That’s just the way their relationship is and i liked how that was dealt with

The plot was also interesting and tho there was some cliche, i was not able to predict everything that happened which is a thumbs up from me

however, i was a little frustrated with the lack of context for the story, especially in the beginning - i wish that there was more world building and explanation of The Shredded specifically (and explicitly) because most of what i understood came from piecing together different pieces of information as opposed to all of it being laid out in some respect somewhere

overall tho, a very decent debut and I’ll be around to read the rest of the series when it’s released

i received an arc from the author in exchange for an honest review :)

[Lou Xavier (witchinthewest) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“First of all, if books could talk, I’d never want to speak to another person. Second, books are meant to be read and enjoyed. Where else can you escape inside a haven of words and stories so fantastically exciting your troubles melt away?”

All the stars! What a phenomenal debut and beginning of a series. This book had the feels of an SJM novel weaved (see what I did there?) with beautiful original lore for the story and incredible bonded characters.

We have mischievous demons, reincarnated souls, a mysterious blight to be fought and a woman in the middle of it who isn’t about to sit back and be quiet and compliant. She’s going to fight fiercely, whether she knows the physical ways how to or not, to protect and save the people she cares the most about.

Derica is strong willed and strong at heart. She’s lived a life of loss in a small village and has decided it’s time to change her path. She and her best friend leave their home and travel to a bigger city along with a band of mercenaries who are just… some of my favorite characters ever written into a book. We have our broody, strong dark commander, his cool, calm and collected comrade and then there’s the snarkiest and most mischievous demon comrade. Chefs kiss for Mazolan. 😍

Now Derica begins to learn her true fate and why this path she’s choosing may already have been spun for her beforehand.

The way the story is written and everything revealed was done so well. Some books reveal things too soon, some have you guessing until just the right time and this one was all just so much the right time. All of it, A+. Beautiful prose, incredible characters I could invest in and will for sure cry over should anything happen to my babies. And we all know… a lot of people aren’t safe in fantasy 😫 lol. But in seriousness, well done. Well done.

Some of my favorite quotes;

“It’s been a good long while since you’ve shoved your own head so far up your arse you’ve forgotten what you’re about.”

“Derica needed to see him undone. To make the perfectly controlled man who was a living weapon become nothing more than sensation and pleasure in her arms.”

“You are the sun to a man starved of warmth and light. You are everything, Derica.”

“She was sick of being the canvas rather than the painter. Another soul would not dictate her path, mood, or choices again.”

“Answer all my questions, and I won’t have to get creative. I enjoy stretching myself as an artist, but the people I interrogate rarely appreciate it.”

Highly recommend this book and I’m so looking forward to learning more about our characters and the direction they’ll be heading next.

[Ashlee Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full Disclosure!
First off all i know the author and consider her a good friend!
Second of all I was a beta reader as well. So I already had a basic knowledge of the story.
That being said I am going to try and give my honest opinion.

Breaker was everything I wanted it to be. There is reincarnation, one bed 😈, found family, grief, LGBTQ representation, plus size rep and so so much more.

The story of the Warrior and the Weaver-Blessed is compelling and tragic. We see a hint of what happened in the past, and how the Warrior deals with that knowledge.

We meet a group of fantastic characters! Justus and Derica of course have such delicious tension and chemistry! While others like Nyle and Ried definitely have interesting stories to tell ( I just know it!) Of course I can't stop talking about Maz! A demon of pure chaos! I love them so much!!!!

I loved the world building. The world isn't too complicated that you feel lost but there are still secrets to be uncovered!

The last 20% or so is so full of tension! I love it! I was at the edge of my seat. Even though I read it before, I still was pulled to read it again! That cliffhanger, which while I knew was coming, was perfectly excited and left me wanting more!

Please please please do yourselves a favor and read this book! It's perfect for those who love fantasy romance and so much more!

[Erin Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

“No more what-ifs, morsel. You can’t what-if everything to death. Being prepared is all well and good, but there is only so much you can anticipate in life.”

Breaker Of Fate captured me from the start. Is a thrilling romantasy, with LGBTQ+ rep, a curvy FMC (and no internalised fat shaming!), a broody MMC and quite possibly my favourite side character ever, Mazolan.

The world/story building is great, and while the story starts of slow, it is so important to the plot to learn the tale of the weaver and the warrior, as well as all the wonderfully, emotionally built story-lives of our MCs. I am DYING to know more about our chaotic, chaos loving side character, Maz will be a character I carry with me everywhere.

We follow Derica & Reid, as they leave their secluded life for the hustle and bustle of castle-city life. Reid & Dericas friendship is so well written, I love how close they are, how they can read each other like a book and how much they care for each other. We don’t seem to see much of our wonderfully growly MMC Justus until the later half of the story, but that makes sense with the plot line, and I can’t wait to see more of him in books 2+.

I can’t wait to read more, to find out the cost of decisions, and how, hopefully, fate will be broken.

[Dino Queen · Rating 5 out of 5]

the cover: simple and dark. i love reading a book and having an "a-ha" moment of the cover
the FMC: Derica- dealing with the death of her mother and looking for a change of scenery, Derica decides to travel with her BFF Reid to a new town and find a life of their own. while she is dealing with the trauma of being an orphan is part of her journey she doesn't let this be her main personality trait. she is witty, strong, smart, and loyal. i loved following her as a MC and am so excited to see the rest of her growth in the coming books!!!!
the MMC: Justus- i mean 😍. a hot and broody mercenary who travels with a wild cast of characters and the Fates keep putting Derica in his path. will he be able to resist her? how will their story unfold?
POV: 3rd person multi-perspective (but mostly 3rd person single perspective)
HEA: overall yes but with a cliffhanger ending! 😮
spice: there are several open-door spicy scenes that were well done 🌶️🌶️ (hi vocal MMC with praise 👋)
TWs: violence, murder, off page torture, death of parent off page, suicidal thoughts, depression
standalone?: this is book 1 in the Thread of Fate series
final thoughts: wow i know this book is just about to be released but R.M. Derrick i'm going to need the next book right away- okay??

read this book if you love
😈 demons/non-humans
🧑‍🤝‍👩 found family
💘 fated mates
🔮 powers/non-human elements (reincarnation, fates, etc)
🌎 wonderful but not hard to follow world building
👌 witty characters with banter
💪 strong (but not perfect) FMC and MMC
🌈 LGBT rep!
🛏️ one bed trope

[LJ Generous · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every second. Such cozy characters that I became overwhelmingly invested in very quickly. A love that spans lifetimes and incorporates all the important stuff like humor, pining, adventure, romance and spice, grief, intrigue, and a fast-paced plot.

Our plus size FMC Derica is adept and relatable, a woman with a simple upbringing who learns to step into her grit and power.

Our MMC is a tasty mercenary with a heart full of pining and a voice like smoke. Need I say more?

Our comedic relief is a nonbinary demon named Mazolan who kept me laughing the WHOLE way through. Absolute chaos and absurdity in the best ways. TRUE MAZ ENERGY.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ✨
I loved this! Was super close to being a solid 5✨

Tropes
🍒 fated mate
🍒 reincarnation
🍒 one bed
🍒 plus size
🍒 grief

A fated mates adventure with a grieving Derica (fmm) and a broody Justus (mmc) I was not ready for this!

Following two friends Derica and Reid, who’s friendship has me jealous as anything- talk about being each others rocks! They start anew, and find a little bit of trouble, and Derica finds her self stumbling across her fated mate. The weaver - the ‘godly figure’ of this story has woven Justus and Derica as heart threads and through the terrors going on in the towns they must either give in or give up whilst trying to survive attacks from dark evil ravaging the towns.

I really loved this book, it took me places I didn’t expect it to and I definitely become attached to the characters! -Mazolan, I’m looking at you! They were my favourite character I’m not going to lie 🤌🏼

For my first arc read this was such a hit, it’s out 2nd of April and if you are into some beautiful romance fantasy then I definitely recommend this book, it’s a perfect length, descriptive and capturing.

💗 quotes I loved:

“She blessed you with pieces of her. In looks and in spirit. It’s all right if that spirit dims once in a while. That’s when you seek the shelter of others. In things that make your heart sing. If it takes time for those joys to light you up the way they once did, it’s all right.” - Tedric

“It appears my feet are carrying me in this direction. So I would say I can go this way. I believe the phrase you want is: you aren’t wanted this way” - Mazolan

[Alex S · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

~ARC REVIEW~
First I’ll say I’m not a fantasy/romantasy expert, so I did not know if this would be my cup of tea but BOY WAS IT!! I instantly was hooked by the writing and story, wondering what everything was and diving into the lore.

Derica, the FMC, was instantly likeable and I really appreciate the showcase of a different body type rather than the usual thin perfect girl. I loved that she was a little clumsy, she worked on finding her voice among the men, and ultimately became a badass!

Meeting Justus made so much sense right away too, I could feel the tension and I was so ready for it to happen. I could feel his struggle and inner conflict with Derica but I was still yelling at my book “cmon just go get her! You know you’re going to give in!!” And “YAASSSS”

The overall story was so good, it was easy to follow but complex enough to be interesting. I loved the Warrior & Weaver-blessed tale and it didn’t seem cheesy.

Most of all, I LOVE MAZOLAN! Why is a demon my favourite character? It must say something about me. The sass, the goading, and I feel like they’re kinda hot 🥵

Overall not the spiciest book I’ve ever read but it didn’t need to be!! It was enough to get me wide-eyed without being too graphic. It does end kind of on a cliff-hanger so there has to be more to the story!

Cannot wait for part 2!!!!

[A.M. Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started: 02.17.2023
Finished: 03.11.2023

🖤Synopsis:
>> The Weaver-blessed and the Warrior. A love so intense, it spans lifetimes. A demon😈, a dagger 🗡️and a deadly ☠️betrayal.

🖤My Review:

⚠️SMALL SPOILERS⚠️

I don’t remember the last time a book gave me goosebumps. The ending- ugh I hate cliffhangers. I can’t wait for the next book to be out already!

I’ve never read a book quite like this one. The story was amazing. I love the idea of the Weaver-blessed and the Warrior. A tragic romance that’ll last for eternity.

The tropes included:
🪡reincarnation
👩🏼‍❤️‍👨🏻fated mates
💔grief recovery
👨‍👩‍👦‍👦found family
🏳️‍🌈mentions of LGBTQ+
👩🏻‍🦳plus sized MC

This is a must read for fantasy lovers. The first chapters paint a beautifully well plotted world building. It was, also, beautifully well written.

Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this book for free in an exchange for a honest review. I hate that it took me so long to read but I ended up in a reading slump due to sickness. But I’m glad I finished it now.

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was so unique and it had me invested from beginning to end. It was an emotional roller coaster but I enjoyed every single second.

Breaker of Fate has a wonderful set of characters. I love each of them but Mazolan has my heart. They were hilarious and so mysterious. I’m excited to learn more about them.

My favorite part of this book were the relationships. First we have Derica & Reid. Their friendship is unbreakable. They would do literally anything for each other. I really loved that Reid’s parents considered Derica their own. It made me so happy! Then there was Derica & Justus. I love a fated mates trope and this one was chef’s kiss. There is so much that still needs to be unpacked between them and I’m looking forward to reading it!

That ending!? Ahh! I cannot wait to find out what is going to happen next. I have so many questions that I desperately need answers to!

[Maggie Burns · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the concept, but the execution was a little bit lacking for me in some areas. I would’ve loved more fleshed out world building and the main bit of the plot with the warrior and weaver-blessed could have been explained more thoroughly because even in the end there were still elements to it that didn’t make loads of sense to me. The pacing was also a bit off, somehow slow and too fast at the same time which made it hard for me to sink my teeth into.

The characters were interesting, but again I wish there was a bit more development with them. Also I have to appreciate the representation in this book with bigger bodies and non-binary characters.

As a whole, it was a pretty middle of the road book, but I will probably be back for the next one because I felt like Breaker of Fate stuck the landing with the final reveal.

[Elodie Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute fantasy read with fated mates, mercenaries and a very sassy demon who can’t keep his mouth shut!

I had a little bit of trouble getting into the book at the beginning but as soon as Derica and her “merry men” (as I call them) leave her small village, things start getting more interesting!

I loved almost everything from it, I really enjoyed the plot however the miscommunication and keeping secrets from the female main character did get a bit on my nerves at some points during the book.

Thank you to the author and the BookFunnel team for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Enelyae Is Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was great. An emotional ride right from the beginning. The FMC has had to deal with a lot of grief in a short amount of time. I feel like the biggest journey here is how she copes with her grief and tries to not overcome it but live with it. It's a beautiful journey.

OMG I need more Maz! He is seriously one of the best characters I have read about in a long time and I want so much more of him. I also love Nyle and need to know more about him. Oh the “one bed” moment was peak 🔥.

Growly, moody alpha male, check; Captivating and unique world, check; and reincarnated fated mates, check. Can't wait for book 2!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the concept. A bit of a slow start for me (as with the first book in most fantasies) but it picked up. Maz was my favorite character. I do hope there will be more to the story because I'm curious about the ending.

[It'sMeMiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you to the author R. M. Derrick for the ARC of this book. (and I'm sorry it took so long for me to read it 😭).

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. it was so so good. I genuinely believe this author is the most underrated author I've ever read. this book was genuinely so good and I can't get over it. I love all the characters and all the representation is so well done.
we fr need more mid-size/plus-size representation in fantasy books 🥹

the world building is so interesting and creative and I just loved this book so much. I WANT MORE.

also, I need a man who is this obsessed with me like..... damn 😩

anyways, I just wanna say I recommend it a lot to people who love a good fantasy/romance 😌❤️

[XOrchidCrystalX · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEWER

I would like to apologize to the author it took me longer to read this ARC than usual. Life just got busy.

I love this book. I love Derica and Justus. Derica is feisty woman in her own ways. She is emotional and caring and protective of the people she loves. I dont want to spoil anything.

I highly recommend picking up this book the love story is amazing. Justus is a man that can't decide to be with the woman he loves or keep her safe from a horrible fate.

The Weaver magic system is very interesting! This felt like a cozy read.

I cannot wait for Book 2 based on the ending.

[Amber Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I want to apologize to the author! I was an ARC reader and was supposed to have this review out by release day and my phone caught fire. I had to get a new one and then had to set it up bc I didn’t back it up. So lesson from reading this review…back up your phones! I lost EVERYTHING and it took me about 3 weeks to get back on track!

BUT, I loved this book! It kept my interest from the beginning. I was overweight most of my adult life and struggled finding characters like me. I still see myself as being overweight so seeing a curvy girl as the protagonist was just what my soul needed!

The 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ oh my 🥵🥵
Just trust me on that!

The grief that was discussed was cathartic and the moments Derica would have flashbacks or random bouts of sadness was point on. The way it was described and written was beautiful and so lifelike. It’s like R.M. Derrick took my exact feelings I’ve had with grief and put them on paper.

The characters were all amazing! Mozalan and their way with words made me laugh a few times. The mercenaries and their different personalities made it an adventure in of itself!

This book was so hard to put down but life and kids only gave me certain times to read. I would have devoured this book in a day if not having things happen!

[Nabz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

So I shall start by saying it has fated mates. Thats all. Please go and buy this asap!

The opening chapters were so good and I felt like I instantly wanted to know more about Derica and where the plot was going! Justus was also a mystery and I need to know more about what was going to happen.

Having a plus sized MC is also hitting so hard and just a fresh take on fantasy romance.

A thrilling fantasy romance featuring reincarnation, fated mates, LGBTQ+ and plus size representation.

The Weaver-blessed and the Warrior.

A love so intense, it spans lifetimes.

A demon, a dagger, and a deadly betrayal.

[Mercedes Omberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨B O O K R E V I E W✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Voluntary ARC Review
Breaker of Fate is available March 1st on KU!

“The Weaver-blessed and the Warrior.
A love so intense, it spans lifetimes.
A demon, a dagger, and a deadly betrayal.”

Forced proximity, fantasy world building, fated mates, mercenaries, demons, creepy fantasy creatures, and lgbtq+ representation. This book is a slow burner in the beginning with some quick twists and turns. As always, read trigger warnings before jumping in.
Fated lovers, destined to find each other over infinite lifetimes, but there’s a catch. Only he can be the one to end her life, him doomed to remember it all and she is destined to forget. This story gives me all the cozy feelings while keeping me on my toes and making laugh and cry. The characters are all lovable in their own unique ways. Derica is grieving the loss of her mother while trying to navigate a life on her own when she is forced to leave the comfort and memories of her village. She is resourceful and a lovable plus sized FMC. She is smart and witty, and loves deeply. She is by far one of my favorite FMC and so relatable with how she perceives things around her.
Justus is our rough around the edges MMC and has lived lifetimes of heartache. He enjoys plans and back up plans and back up plans for the back up plans. It’s not until he finds Derica in this lifetime that we see the soft side of this mercenary and how much he would sacrifice for the ones he loves.
Maz is our lovably sarcastic demon who likes to poke fun at Justus and let me tell you, they are hilarious at times. 😂

Also the spicy scenes 🥵🥵🫠🫠

I love this story and I can not wait to hear about the next novel in this series!

[Ashley (scatteredthistle) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a slower start, but It picked up and got really interesting. It had a great plot with an really cool underlying myth/backstory. Nice spice but not one of those books that is all spice and no plot. Those are not for me. It didn’t fully wrap itself up, but not a cliffhanger either and left some questions and need for more! Good sign that more is to come. Favorite character-Maz!

ARC

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

How is this a debut novel?! Fantasy books, especially the first in a series are often extremely information heavy to explain the various magical systems and world building but Ray excelled at showing and not telling in this story! Not once did I feel overwhelmed, confused or heaven forbid, bored due to information overload!

I loved the backstory of the weaver being an actual being that sat at the loom and weaved every soul into existence and just the simple, yet intricate beauty of the strands overlapping or fraying was reflected in the current life cycle.

My two absolute favourite moments of the story was Maz playing the role of their lifetime towards the end and the ending. That's all I am going to say on that because holy wowzers 🤯

Also, Maz is simply amazing and I love them! I hope that they are a massive part of the next book because I need more Maz in my life.

Would absolutely recommend this book! It’s a Fated soul mates, found family, second chance fantasy with some steamy scenes throughout. As soon as the physical copies are available, I will be ordering one for my shelves!

[Sonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

EPIC ROMANTASY

The story started a little slow but rapidly picked up the pace. A great cast of side characters and good world building. This fantasy was a breath of fresh air and a little different from the norm:

You have a positive, brave and strong plus sized FMC
Chosen One
Found Family
One Bed
Forbidden Love
Forced Proximity
Reincarnation
Secrets
Fated Mates

There were some steamy moments as well as some laugh out load moments especially when Mazolan was in the chapter; they were all about the juicy gossip. Derica is a FMC you can get behind. This is a unique story of Fated mates and reincarnation and the bond between the Warrior and the Weaver-Blessed. Derica is still coping with the death of her mother but in the midst of her coping she sets out on a journey of self discovery. Justus tried to stay away from Derica but secrets surround the coup!e as their past collide with the present.

Fate has more in store for both Derica and Justus proving that no matter how many plans you make Fate will have her due and there's no escaping it.

[Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantasy 🤝 Romance.
I loved this book, Ray has written the perfect fantasy romance that combines the best of both genres. This debut novel has tropes of 'oh no there's only one bed' to a touch of LGBT+ and plus size rep!

Sometimes with fantasy novels, the world-building can overpower good storytelling but this is definitely not the case with Breaker, I never felt confused as the story carries you along at just the right pace.

It's also not often when each side character has their purpose in a novel but no doubt, each and everyone does in this book. I'm so excited to see what Derica, Justus, Reid and the merry band of thieves (aka the best mercenaries a small town could ask for Nyle & Mazolan) get up to in book two AND to finally unravelling that crazy revelation on the last page of the book!

[Raquel | mommagracereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best read of February, this debut fantasy checks all the boxes.

With the release of this book coming in 2 days, I have to tell you you need to pick up this book. R.M. Derrick did such a fantastic job with this. I was crying several times throughout the book, laughing, screaming, you name it.

Derica is our plus-sized queen. I adore that her size and curves are embraced and not shamed.
Reid is her best friend, and I loved that this giant of a man is a softie for her, and there is a brother-sister bond between them. He's always there to protect and defend her, while also encouraging her.

Justus... he may seem like a brute, but his world revolves around Derica. "Every fiber of my being wants to hold you, touch you, care for you. Until the universe is dust around us, that's all I could ever want." Once you read this book, you'll understand why all my saved quotes center around him.

Maz is the best sidekick side character. I also said that about Hadrial from A Ruin of Roses... You know, I think Maz and Hadrial would get along fantastically and be the best of friends. The mischief those two would get up to.... Oh, it'd be the best fanfic crossover ever. Anyways. Maz is a breath of fresh air, and just what this story needs to help bring the characters and plot together. They really are going to be a fan-favorite character.

Fated mates and reincarnation... but only the Warrior is aware. Reading the book description, you know who the Warrior and Weaver-Blessed are as they're introduced. You get to follow along with Derica's journey of self-discovery. After losing her mother, she feels adrift. Jumping at the opportunity to leave her small town with Reid, to start fresh in the city, but you know how fantasy novels go... it doesn't all go according to plan. Joining forces with Justus and his crew, they make the trek to the city. An unfortunate encounter with the Shredded separating them from the others, Derica and Justus seek shelter in an abandoned cabin in the woods. Forced proximity and their attraction to each other they had been trying to deny? Things start heating up, if you catch my drift. 😏

Shortly after, we get a fast-forward of several months. Derica and Reid are settling in with their new lives and duties, so things have got to be tossed around a bit. Add in some action, fighting action, not spicy action. Okay, yes, there is some spicy action, too! Add in some camaraderie, and a healthy dose of tension, and we get the lead-up to the cliffhanger. The twists at the end were not what I was expecting.

"You are the sun to a man starved of warmth and light. You are everything, Derica."
Squeee! I seriously can not wait for the next installment of their story.

[Gal Wohlen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5⭐
Okkkk, I had the amazing opportunity of getting the beta read AND the arc for this book. And wow. Ray truly delivered what she promised. This was my first time reading and reviewing and arc book, so I was a bit hesitant about it, but let me tell you one thing: Ray is an amazing person with a huge heart and a great author with so much talent.

This book can easily become a comfort book. A beautiful way of writing, the plot got me hooked from page one, and the characters were relatable. Plusssss if you love having around an anarchist demon with the funniest sense of humor, sarcasm, and the best no-plan plans this should be a book high on your TBR. There are too many good things in this book haha.
Another bonus for this story? The tangible tension between Derica and Justus was so freaking good!

Having a book with a plus-size main character and LGBTQIA+ representation, it's so refreshing as it resembles the reality we live in, who have problems similar to ours, and more importantly, those who do not have perfect bodies. I believe we grew up watching and reading books and movies where the FMC was skinny as spaghetti and stunningly beautiful, which only makes unattainable standards for us mortals.

I loved the world-building of the book since it was easy to understand. The plot and characters go with the flow of the story, which is nice since you don't get thrown random facts in the middle of the book…
Moreover, this book talks about what emotional trauma and grief can do to a person, which is very relatable as these two topics are not discussed frequently enough. I feel like Derica truly helps us understand that even if we want to get out of the grief cycle is not easy. We sometimes need help to break the cycle, which is the main reason why I love Found Family since friends can help us get through hard moments and be there for us.

So, in the end, this book surely could help us understand we don't have to carry our problems alone; we can rely on our friends and open up slowly but steadily about the things that burden our hearts and souls to make it easier. That the flaws and negative thoughts we have about ourselves will only tear us down, we need to surround ourselves with comrades who lift our spirits when we feel down; who will help us see the sunshine in a cloudy sky, and who will cheer us up every step.

Thank you, Ray, for writing such a good book!

[Bevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

{4.5/5}

**CW: death of a parent, spice, mild gore, some others. Please check the content warnings if needed.

The Warrior and the Weaver-Blessed were cursed. And that was just the beginning…

Y’all. This book…Where do I even begin? It was SO. FREAKING. GOOD! I was fortunate enough to get to read a digital ARC prior to pub day (which is rapidly approaching, just FYI) and I could hardly put it down. I need book 2 *immediately.* And that cover?? Ugh, amazing.

Okay, first of all, the FMC is phenomenal. She’s soft and squishy (both physically and emotionally) but she’s fiercely protective of her loved ones and she’s not a pushover. She knows her limitations and is under no delusion that she can suddenly go do things in which she has no prior experience. It’s honestly really refreshing because she’s not this tiny little waif or a tall majestic warrior and she’s not good at everything and she’s really relatable and it just made the story so. Much. Better.

The MMC, by the way, has not been solely reduced to sweaty muscles and ridiculous possessiveness. The muscles and attitude are there, don’t get me wrong, but we get to see why he is the way he is and what the thought process is behind the attitudes and we get to see him actively embrace the FMC for who *she* is and he adores her for it. It’s glorious. And the back and forth between them is just…amazing.

Speaking of amazing, Mazolan. You’ll have to meet them, but when you do you’ll understand. They’re my favorite. (Also, shout out to the author for having a nonbinary character who features prominently and I don’t think the author slipped a single time with their pronouns?)

I cannot stress the absolute delight that I got from seeing the relationships in this story. The friendships, the trust, the adoration. All of it. I loved all of it.

The plot itself was interesting, it kept me engaged, and although it didn’t progress overly rapidly, I didn’t find myself getting distracted or wishing anything would hurry up and get to the point. The romance portion kept things engaging when the action was at a lull, and vice versa.

All of that to say…you should go read this book. Like, now. Thank me later. I’m going to be finding myself a physical copy as soon as I can.