Of Fire & Fables: The Oracle Compendium

by T.C. Kraven

This is a book 3.5 in the Dark Fates Novels, and follows more of Ares, Hephaestus and Aphrodite following the events of Forges & Fury, (available on KU). You must have completed Forges in order to remain spoiler free while reading this compendium.

This contains mature content! It is a Poly throuple situation.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy

187 pages, Paperback

Published May 26, 2024

About the author

T.C. Kraven is three raccoons in a trench coat, writing stories that seek to promote the diverse dynamics she grew up in. You can often find her tucked into a Waffle House booth in New Orleans, frantically chasing a plot thread over a two egg breakfast.

Reviews

[Ratebookswithashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this novella and loved every minute of it! The chemistry between the three characters was electric and expertly crafted. The romantic scenes were sizzling hot! I can't recommend it enough - trust me, you won't be disappointed! Despite its shorter length, the story felt fully fleshed out and perfectly paced. A well-deserved 5 stars from me!

[Hannah The Awkward · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Oh my Cosmic Stars… Of Fire & Fables is HOT 🥵 T.C. Kraven has done it once again in creating a world where gods and goddesses not only live spicy, but plot to destroy Zeus after living under his corrupted rule for a millennia. Will that get one more step closer to destroy the God of Gods? Or will he find them first?

I absolutely love the dynamic of Ares, Diety, and Heph. They represent a poly throuple very well in that it isn’t always perfect, but they don’t give up working on things and trying for each other. I appreciate the importance of communication, safe words, and the strong love bond that they have. I also greatly appreciate that it is shown that a Dom can too be a bottom 💅🏻😏

Tropes/vibes:
💖 Greek mythology
🔥 Safe and consenting BD$M rep
🗡️ Importance of Communication in relationships
💖 Poly relationship rep
🔥 sword crossing ⚔️
🗡️ MMF/MFM
💖 Brat/Dom/Master dynamic
🔥 Fated Mates
🗡️ Preparing for war

Thank you so much to T.C. Kraven for an eARC for Of Fire & Fables! This review are all my own thoughts and opinions. If you love spice and Greek Mythology then this one’s for you 💖

[ashlee ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hephaestus, Ares, + Aphrodite

-second book for this throuple
-greek mythology retelling
-FM/MFM/MM/MMF whychoose
-dom/switch/brat
-family trauma
-new bonds
-found family

omgggg this was hot af!! im so glad we got more from this crew because they've been my FAVORITEEE & we did NOT get enough of them being happy at the end of their last book!! thank the gods!

[Hannah Andres · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO. GOOD. from beginning to end. I loved getting more of an insight on their relationship, the flashbacks and back stories, and how everything still heavily ties into the overall plot.

AND. THE. SPICE. don’t even get me started!! Girl!! YES!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book right here is going to live rent free in my head for a long while. The healing it promoted, the beautiful storyline, the tenderness and sweetness… chef’s kiss.

Plus… it was ridiculously, ridiculously spicy 🥵🥵🥵

These 3 have my heart, and I feel so blessed to get a glimpse into their story!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this and I am leaving the review of my own free will.
AS IF YOU COULD STOP ME. ARE YOU KIDDING.

The angst. The heat. That damn cocky lil smolder of Hephaestus. Whew, I was sweatinnnngggg which should have not been a surprise to me because, HELLO, I read of Forges & Fury but this one had me weak.

The headphones? My MAN Hephaestus. Where yall get that at? Ditey order him off Hozier's internet?

[Amanda Lynn Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please note that this is an ARC review. I was not paid to write this. I DEVOURED this book/novella. Only reason I gave it 4 stars is because it was too short! I NEED more Heph/Diety/Ares in my life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - I love Greek mythology and have an obsession with it since I was a child. Persephone and Hades have been my favorite couple and I’ve been on a bender trying to read any and all retelling of their story. After this book and book #3 I MUST find and devour any and all Heph/Deity/Ares retellings - they’re my new favorite pairing and I’m just in love with them.

I love the contrast in characters, the spice, and that sneak cliffhanger!!!! Gah! The story progression was steady and to see the POV of each MC was a highlight. Not to mention the bratty behavior. I do think the love between H and A was a bit fast but you know what they say. There is a fine line between love and hate.

[Jacqueline Rezmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a great follow up to ‘Of Forges & Fury.’ I loved getting to further dive into our throuple and continue the healing journey they are on.

Of course the spice level was top notch and everything you’d expect and are looking forward to from a T.C. Kraven novel. Overall, if you loved ‘Of Forges & Fury’ you will love ‘Of Fire & Fables’!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kirsten_BookRants · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️ 200th Kindle Read of 2024 ❤️

⭐⭐⭐.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

"They say there's a fine line between love and war. Hephaestus, you're that line. We don't work without you." One of my favorite quotes from this series.

Of Fire and Fables picks up right where our Hephaestus, Aphrodite and Ares's story left off. But most importantly I'm glad the remaining scars of the past are being addressed. "It was foolish to think the trials could have just eliminated all of the scars between us. I don't care, though. I'm choosing to put in the work,"

I read the main series because coming back to the novellas, and with this book in particular I wished I had read right after book 3. Because I felt that centuries of struggles were just cured after 3 trials, and of course I was wrong.

A highlight for me was the relationship between Aphrodite and Hera being worked on. It wasn't pretty, but it's nice to see them come to an understanding. It's hard to forgive a person who has caused you so much pain.

One thing that always bothers me in romance is often when we are dealing with a broken female and male character, the female character is given space to process her trauma, while it's seemingly appears the MMCs needs to be on some kind of schedule. And that's something that irritates me about Aphrodite and Ares, this constant shame and guilt cycle. She can mess up, but Ares needs to be different when she see fit. He storms out, she cries and Hephaestus is stuck in the middle. Then moments later they are tearing each other's clothes off, and I'm screaming communicate people please communicate 😭.

This book is why no one will ever make me hate Hera. While her methods for her madness are toxic, she like everyone else is doing whatever it takes to survive, and most importantly protect her child. I don't condone her actions, but I can be empathic.

Loved reading my undercover super freak Hephaestus again!

While I'm glad the truth that Hera was keeping is out, I still didn't see much growth regarding communication with this threesome. And while Hera played a role in the problems surrounded their relationship, she wasn't the entire block. And I really would like to see Hephaestus, Ares and Aphrodite worked their problems out outside the bedroom more. But I remind myself this is fiction and I'm probably putting too much thought into it.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

-I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

-Are we even surprised we jump feet first into a steamy scene w/these 3?! NOPE.

-Happy these 3 have been figuring their shit out and working on it TOGETHER

-The way the author intertwines the mult. POVs keeps me flying through these books AND I always have so many questions as I’m reading and make tons of notes, but once again the author keeps that mystery alive throughout the book and my questions get answered along the way even if it’s in the next book. Just love the way these books are connected.

-The way Heph, Ares & Ditey SUPPORT each other 🤌🏼

-Do we like Hera? I’m undecided, she’s definitely a momma 🐻 and I GET THAT, but also is she just looking out for herself 🤔

-Could just be my brain but was confused how Heph came into this world exactly, would’ve liked MORE on that

-Zeus is the King of Toxicity 🚩 let’s kick some ass

-A 🐓 CAGE?! Damn my boy Heph is CRAY 😍

-Overall I loved this book, I’ve grown to love these characters (although shadow daddy Hades and Seph are still my fav) and have enjoyed reading their difficult journey to become 1 badass poly relationship. This book is short but PACKED with info, twists and steamy scenes.

🌶️🌶️

-bondage
-SA
-praise
-M/F
-M/M/F
-M/M
-dom

-This is book 3.5 on the Dark Fates Novels, please read the first 4 books beforehand

[Reinna Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book as an ARC because I love this series and the pink pages took me out at the kneecaps.

First, I want to start by saying that I thought this was going to be just a steamy, smutty little read. It's their honeymoon afterall!

T.C. you're a real asshole for making me cry my own tears on a Tuesday. I devoured this in one sitting, I physically could not put it down. She has a way of making me really give a shit about characters I thought I knew as the villain. The way she wrote the out of place soldier's perspective of Ares was real and raw and tore at my heartstrings as someone who's seen similar things in the line of duty.

I would kill for an Achilles/Patrocolus flashback.

Hephaestus is a true golden one, especially with how he tries to reconcile his guilt and keep Hera accountable. Like, parents are ROUGH, but he is willing to stand ten toes down for his partners and that is something that made me cry my eyes out.

I'm ready for Rage and Ruin. That teaser wasn't enough, I need her to download it right to my brain right now.

[Janell Womack · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I will attempt to keep this review as spoiler free as possible.*
When I say the absolute chokehold this story has on me. Leaving off at the end of the last book where our three lovers have finally found their peace and love with each other, you’re expecting a happily ever after. What you end up with is three people who love each other so much they will literally battle through heaven, hell, and earth for each other. These three show what it is to support your spouse through everything, even when you don’t necessarily agree with their decisions or when they insist on doing it by themselves. This book will tug at your heart and make you want to scream and cry. You can see the individual relationships and the love each one has for each other equally. It’s a beautiful representation of how love can be multiplied and not divided. TC KRAVEN always delivers on her adage of spice in her books, and oh boy this book is no exception. This is a 5/5 spice with MMF couplings and it is fantastically written.
Run, do not walk, to get this book. It was impossible to put down!

[Sundays and Paperbacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this novella as an ARC and absolutely devoured it! This is the novella which follows on from Of Forge & Fury, which you do need to read before this novella for it to make sense as this is where Aphrodite, Ares and Heph’s story starts.

I fell in love with Aphrodite, Ares and Heph and their relationship in the previous book and continued to enjoy it in this novella. Their characteristics all compliment each other so well and the way they are determined to address their own issues to make their relationship work is amazing.

The spice in this book is also amazing! I loved that there were some solo MM scenes and that they weren’t all group scenes. Although the group ones were HOT, HOT, HOT!

If you are someone who enjoys Greek mythology retellings with a spicy twist I definitely recommend this series and specifically this novella and the book before.

I gave this novella andoverall 4.5 star rating. There was so much crammed into a novella sized book but it didn’t feel rushed or like an unnecessary plot point and there are definition some scenes that will live rent free in my mind!

[Nerdy.Scientist.Reads || NERDY · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5⭐️ 4.5/5🌶️
I have not been this immersed in a longer series in quite some time. To say these gods and goddesses have me in a chokehold is an understatement, especially these three. Boy, have they been through it. You’d have thought in Fury they would have been out of the woods with their union. Wellll….history can’t be erased….or can it? Ares and Aphrodite have to learn how to navigate their future by facing their past. And Hephaestus does what he does best in taking care of them. But there are also past secrets coming to fruition that could cause their whole foundation to crumble, not that it didn’t start out rocky to begin with. In this book, we learn the why. And let me just say, I was shooketh. We see a whole other side to these characters as well as others that just make you fall a little harder for them. Heph, Ditey, and Ares will always take up a place in my heart. These books are like crack, and I urge everyone I know to start The Dark Fates series!

[Artemis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every single one of these books just KEEPS getting better. After reading the rest of the series, I was curious as to what little nuggets of knowledge we were going to uncover here but I was NOT prepared for the absolute rollercoaster of emotions that this book took me on.

Ares... I just might be feral over that man. And Heph. And Ditey. Hells, I want them all.

It's really refreshing to see polyam realistic relationships. The fact that the baddie in this was their lack of communication, them knowing that they were being asses but not being able to convey WHY or how to stop it, the real life nitty gritty...that shit hit hard.
I'm going to no doubt be in a book slump over this one for a while. BUT THAT TEASER! GIMMIE.

1000000/5 stars

[Tatiana Gibau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me preface this by saying, if you haven't read the first three books, this book will leave you with a thirst for more!
Yall, the way I ATE this book up with the quickness. The plot? * muah* the spice * perfection* the dynamic between the three couldn't have been written more beautifully. The struggles our trio faces together and the internal battles they rage inside themselves is the best torture in all the ways you want. Ditey is a girls girl, through and through and her determination is the fire that fuels hephs forge and you can't tell me any different. I enjoyed reading these new aspects of our fav trio and getting a more down and dirty look at what goes into such a united front... the fates be damned cause Noone tells our Gods and Goddess what they can and can't do!

[iesha Bright · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.8 stars

tropes/vibes
greek mythology
sword crossing
bdsm
poly throuple

DAMN!!!! we jump straight into spice with this book. i fell in love immediately i swear hades stays my number 1 but heph and ares are a super close second.
the way these three navigate through their problems through out the relationship is beautiful. they have so much support for each other.
im still on the fence on whether i am for or against Hera
this book def ATE and i cant wait for the next one i love the multiple pov and the story telling. the pace was perfect even though it was a quick read i wasnt lacking anything.
this author continues to slay with each book .
def recommend this book 100 percent

[Holly Cliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of Fire & Fables
T.C. Kraven

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Reader’s tears: 💧

When the spice starts on the first page, I always know I’m in for a good time. However, this is book 3.5 in the Dark Fates series, so make sure to catch up before you jump in!
We’re back with Ares, Hephaestus, and Aphrodite and all of their spicy goodness.
It was physically impossible to put this book down, and I only wish there was more!
The more books we get in this series, the more drama and excitement we get. I love all of the layers that keep getting added to this world, making it all blend together so seamlessly.
Overall, this was a super quick and super spicy read, and I’m probably going to go back and re-read the full series soon.

[Judyth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than the previous one, but I still had some issues with it. The plot was more interesting, though the main couple is so dramatic at times. Really unsure how I’m going to like Hera in the next one. I understand that she’s in a bad position and with her traumatic past, but she’s also been completely awful to everyone around her and unapologetic about it. And then the plot had all kinds of holes regarding the motivation behind the decisions, and not quite aligning with previous statements made.
The characters don’t really feel like complete people different from each other; the men are all the same and the women are all the same. And making the women “strong” simply by making them stubborn when someone tells them to do something, is both annoying and not equal to strength.

[Dorothy Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa this book was so freaking good! I devoured this book once I got a chance to really dive in. I did receive an arc copy, and I’m leaving my review voluntarily. If you have read the first three, this is a good in between book to help with the series! If you aren’t familiar, it follows Aphrodite, Ares, and Hephaestus. The banter between these 3 alone is chefs kiss. The teasing during the spicy scenes? Ughhhhh, made me feel like I also needed to get my own room lol. Overall, I enjoyed this quick read between the three. It does leave on a cliffhanger, tbe, but I can’t wait to keep reading the next of the series!!

[Leah Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5⭐️
5/5🌶

Gosh dang this book! Read books 1-3 made this book so emotional knowing these characters and why they feel the way they do about Zeus! This book gave me SO much more hate for Zeus than I already had and it gave me a very iffy relationship with Hera! Like I like her and understand her but then again idk if I really like her!

Amazing addition to the Dark Fates series!

Favorite Quote:
"Good boys get rewarded. Where do you want me to finish, baby boy? Down your thro@t or deep !ns!de of you?"

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The continuing story with Ares, Heph and Ditey just got even better! We are immediately immersed with their chemistry and love from the start. This book, however, I felt had more connection, more plot, there's trauma and healing. The continued character development was just so good! I do also love the other characters within this series and must say one in particular may be winning me over! This book was such an amazing addition to this series.

I read this book as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Izzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved to see the triad learn each other in such an human way. I was giggling and tearing up and feeling triumphant throughout all their phases. It was only at this book I realised how much I appreciate the pacing. Sometimes the story felt sped along but the details of the parts I was drawn to seduced me to the depths of my soul and made up for any slight I may have felt about the time skips. I'd suggest this series to all my greek mythology loving friends and to my other very horny friends. (ARC Reader Review)

[Ange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶

Of Fire and Fables is book 3.5 in the #DarkFates series by #TCKraven. It tells the tales of Ares, Hepheastus, and Aphrodite following the trials of Forges and Fury, showing their struggles as they navigate a new bond and all the traumas they've faced. It's a good reminder that no matter how hard you try, you can't run from your past.

Communication is key to relationships and finding out HOW to communicate with your partners is part of it. This book puts emphasis on Ares and how he bottles his emotions and copes with his PTSD from being a God of War.

[Bonnie Sikes]

I have always been a big fan of Mythologies. Especially Greek. And this take on it was so good that it quickly became one of my favorites that i have read in a long time. That it was modern time and not far from where i live. That made it even better lol.

I do recommend these books if you are a fan of Greek mythology and seeing someone's added twists to them.

**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**

[EP Gazette · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐
4 🌶️ Very spicy MFM open door scenes
2 ☠️ Some triggers apply

T. C. Has once again blown me away!
The passion between these three is perfectly balanced with their struggles. We get to see them work through their past traumas together and reforge their lives to fit their new dynamic. Meeting Hera has added so many layers and questions, I am dying to unravel the mysteries woven into this series!

[Jess_feelzinsane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can not put in words how these books have owned my soul! Heph..Ares..and Aphrodite..the effort each is making for each other is just something to be jealous over! The anger Aphrodite feels for Hera for what she's done to mess with her memories.. I understand! The spiciness in this book is so spicy!! Loved it! And the ending! Ugh, I just ate this book up!!

[Bailey Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

These just keep getting better. I will continue to say that if a book made me feel physical emotions that is a damn good book. And this was just soooooo good. I'm a huge Ares girly and always will be. Their dynamic is the best and shows a true relationship learning and growing from past trauma. Such. A. Great. Read ♥️♥️♥️

[Shere · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You have five seconds to get your ass back in this bed or it's gonna be a problem, Little Goddess."

🥵🥵 this series keeps getting better and better. Continuing to follow Heph/Ares/Aphrodite on their journey. You’ll be flipping pages to see what happens next. This book was over way too fast, I loved every second of it.

[LeAnne Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have yet to read a book by T.C. Kraven that I don’t thoroughly enjoy. She knows how to tug on your emotions in good and bad ways. Reading about Hephaestus, Ares, and Aphrodite had me in my feels the whole time! I couldn’t put the book down, I had to know what was going to happen. Now time to read the next!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily