Between Fate & Failure

by Amber D. Lewis

Elodia’s magic depends on the lineage of Fae blood present in the royal family, but with the Fae wiped out, that magic is dying. In a desperate attempt to save and restore magic, the royal family is forced to look outside the normal line of nobility to find someone with enough magical Fae blood to save the kingdom's magic.

Freya was never meant for the palace. She’s a simple farming girl, but when the palace discovered she has the coveted golden blood of the Fae, her fate was all but sealed. The plan was that she would marry the cocky prince Tybalt when she turned twenty-one, but when the current king’s health starts to fail, that wedding date gets bumped up a couple years.

Ty made the mistake of believing he could mold his own fate, only for his plans to be destroyed when the “perfect” bride was found. Even though he wants nothing more than to save his kingdom’s magic and live up to his dying father’s expectations, marrying the totally inappropriate and unprepared Freya isn’t exactly how he imagined things going.

Now the two of them must prove to the rest of the kingdom that they’re suitable to rule by going on a pre-ceremony tour, accompanied by Elodia’s top assassin, Bastion. When attacks from a magic-hating cult derail their trip, all three must learn to trust and rely on each other, forming bonds they only previous dreamed of, bonds that will be very hard to break.

354 pages, Paperback

Published July 30, 2024

About the author

Amber D. Lewis is a highly combustible combination of caffeine, mismatched coffee mugs, and shiny things. In her spare time (and, quite frankly, when she’s supposed to be doing other things) she writes fantasy and other stories.

Reviews

[Kaylie Winterton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got to read an ARC of this book and really enjoyed it! It’s definitely not the most action-packed book I’ve ever read, but it felt like a great first book of a series with a lot of great character development. You can feel the story building and I am so excited to see where it goes!

[Shannon (Twilight Sleep) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so fortunate to get to beta read this book and all I can really say is WOW. I loved every second and didn’t want to put it down. I cannot wait for this to release so everyone can have the chance to read it. It’s an amazing story full of delicious intrigue and wonderful diversity. Do not skip this one!

[Amber Lewis]

I'm not dropping a star rating because I wrote the book so I'm ridiculously biased, but honestly, I think it's pretty damn good and you should definitely read it. 😉 Plus I've read this baby enough that I am 100% counting it toward my 2024 reading goal. And, to be entirely honest, it gets a little better every time I read it. 💜

You might also enjoy this book if you like romantasy books with:
🔪 A morally gray assassin
👑 A handsome prince
💁🏼‍♀️ A girl who can hold her own
💍 An arranged marriage/marriage of convenience
🛏️ One bed
🐎 Shared Horse
💧Elemental Magic
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Forced Proximity
💔 Slight Angst
🗣️ Witty Banter
🔥 Medium/light spice
🏳️‍🌈 A cast of almost entirely queer characters
💖 And lots of other awesome stuff 😉

Coming summer of 2024 to a bookshelf near you! 💋

[R.A. Desilets · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got to beta read this and boy, are you all in for a wild ride once this is out. Highly recommended for romantasy fans—lots of amazing tension and a super fun story.

[Jessica Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off wow another great book. I hate the cliff hanger and I want more now to get into it.

Right out the gate I loved the story. The playful banner with Freya and Bast it drew me in and made me laugh.
Then add in ty and his tricks and his hate for her. You can feel the tension with ty and bast and know something was there beyond guard and friend.

The banner BTW all three of them made the story very entertaining and enjoyable.
The you have the sweet side of bash trying to comfort Ty when he need it and keep him In line for his own good. The whole time I just keep thinking through the story I hope the three of them can be together. They so good together.

I love how ty goes to his father for advice and he willing to try after it. You see thst soft side mix with his stern side.
When they get together and bast is left alone that broke my heart. I feel for him so much.

When we meet Clarissa the name was so close to the other girl that try to push off the cliff. I question why ty said she could trust her. Then I double check the name. So thst might cause confusion.

Bast dream of lose them that was so emotional I was hoping it wad dream and felt so relieved it was. But poor bast. Then I love the way they help him after it just made me want them all to be together.

That cliff hanger I need to know what going to happen. I want them all three to be together. I knew something bad wad coming the way that Duke was acting but his mother I don't like her.
Poor ty again he having another love rip from him how he going to survive it.
Now Freya and bast have to figure what to do to protect ty but protect themselves. Maybe they can be together but I don't forsee ty survive the separation from them both. Having another wife he don't want he close himself off and he won't see the bad around him and he be vulnerable even more.

[Marhen DeNoble · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked from page one to the clutch your pearls gasping like a wide mouth sea bass plot twist to the cliff hanger!

Fantasy Adventure where the Kingdoms magic is in peril to the lovers triangle that isn’t really a triangle that I hope becomes a why choose situation… a girl can hope.

The world building is great, the author gives you enough without overly information dumping on you. I love how it unfolds naturally throughout the whole book.

The slow burn truly slow b u r n s…. It is magnificent. The tension. Gah I can keep going only down side is that book two is too far away from publication. I need the next book like yesterday.

Definitely love this book. I can’t wait for more. Also…. I hope the Queen gets what she deserves 🤬

[T. Van Athen · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most frustrating experiences in my life was finishing this book mid-flight on a plane full of crowded people and I wasn't able to
1) scream out loud at the end in frustration and excitement
2) download another book so I was left with my own thoughts

So, yes, there was a bit of a cliffhanger. And I can't WAIT for Book 2!

I LOVE these characters, their development and their banter.

Note: I did receive this book as an ARC. Did I read it before published date? No *hanging head in shame* Do I wish I had? yes and no. Waiting means hopefully less gap until book two. ;) Are these thoughts, comments and reviews my own? Absolutely.

[Ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I was lucky enough to receive an early version of this and absolutely loved it! After reading Amber's last series I knew I would be getting something good but I fell in love with this book from the first chapter. The banter back and forth between the character really made them feel real. The love story left me wondering who to root for. The growth of the characters was believable and well paced. My only complaint would be that it ended in quite the cliffhanger so now I will be going crazy waiting on the next book!

[Roz · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a romantasy fan who enjoys queer inclusion, found family, and broody assassins, then don't sleep on Between Fate and Failure! This first book in a new series features a lovable and flawed trio as they navigate court intrigue, threats to magic, assassination plots, and ✨feelings ✨. Lewis takes the time for thorough world-building, immersing readers in a new magical setting and leaving them begging for book 2.

[Cassie Bernal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so fortunate to have received a beta version of the book of the book. I was hooked on the book after reading the first page! This has become one of my favorite romantasy books and is a must-read for any romantasy reader. I couldn't put it down and cannot wait for a second book. This is easily a 5-star review!

[Casey Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I absolutely devoured this book is no surprise it was so easy to fall in love with Ty, Bash and Freya I found myself fully rooting for an ultimate happily ever after. I am already impatient to get my hands on the next book and I cannot wait to see what this next adventure has in store. And it wouldn't be a review if I didn't tell Amber that I'm waving my fist in the air at her 🤣

[Ang · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC reader here...this was such a well balanced written book. So much character development between the three characters in getting to know each other.

The ending...mind blown. Didn't expect that one.

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great read. I loved the world. My heart ached for Ty and Bash in the beginning. The relationship between Ty, Bash, and Freya was wonderful. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.

[Kostia D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blessed to be a beta reader for this. Great characters and story. Easy 5 star review. Enjoyed it 100%

[Beth Doyle Fields · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book and I am so glad I did! The banter had me hooked from page one. I came to love Freya, Ty, and Bash and can’t wait for the next installment.

[Autumn Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I loved this book. Enemies to lovers. Perfection. And the ending?! Need book 2 asap.

[Sam’s Sagas · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a love triangle! This book was great, and I hope once it releases, everyone will love it too. It was definitely a SLOW burn kinda deal. I was hoping for more to happen within the book, but it seemed like it was majority a lot of build up first. And I mean like with what they’re having to go through, plus the character development. The cliffhanger though! I was gutted that it ended and I couldn’t find out what happened next, BUT it was the perfect ending to the book to lead to #2!

[Tiffany J McLay · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book.

This book is a fantastic introduction to the Fate of Elodia series.
It has some worldbuilding, action, and quite a lot of character building.

I fell in love with all 3 MCs, and I can't wait for the next book in the series!

[Megan Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're in your romantasy era, this needs to be on your TBR! Lewis does it again, creating a masterpiece with lovable characters you won't be forgetting any time soon. The Fate of Elodia has everything you could want in a book: enemies to lovers, forced proximity and some of my favorite morally grey characters of 2024. Lewis weaves a tale of found family, queer characters and emotional damage like no other, and this book is nothing less. This hit is an action packed adventure with romance to die for and will surely be your next 5 star read!