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Fate's Bane
Ignyte Award-winning author C. L. Clark brings fantasy to the fens with Fate's Bane, a tragic sapphic adventure.
Warring clans. Burning hearts. Deadly fate.
The clans of the fens enjoy a tenuous peace, and it is all thanks to Agnir, ward and hostage. For as long as she can remember she has lived among the enemy, learning their ways, growing strong alongside their children. When a burgeoning love for the chieftain's daughter lures them both to a hidden spring, a magic awakens in them that could bind the clans under one banner at last--or destroy any hope of peace. By working their intentions into leather, they can weave misfortune for their enemies... just like the Fate's Bane that haunts the legends of the clans.
Ambitions grow in their fathers' hearts, grudges threaten a return to violence, and greedy enemies wait outside the borders, seeking a foothold to claim the fens for themselves. And though their Makings may save their families, the legend that gave them this power always exacts its price.
Warring clans. Burning hearts. Deadly fate.
The clans of the fens enjoy a tenuous peace, and it is all thanks to Agnir, ward and hostage. For as long as she can remember she has lived among the enemy, learning their ways, growing strong alongside their children. When a burgeoning love for the chieftain's daughter lures them both to a hidden spring, a magic awakens in them that could bind the clans under one banner at last--or destroy any hope of peace. By working their intentions into leather, they can weave misfortune for their enemies... just like the Fate's Bane that haunts the legends of the clans.
Ambitions grow in their fathers' hearts, grudges threaten a return to violence, and greedy enemies wait outside the borders, seeking a foothold to claim the fens for themselves. And though their Makings may save their families, the legend that gave them this power always exacts its price.
167 pages, Hardcover
First published September 30, 2025
120 people are currently reading
15648 people want to read
About the author
C.L. Clark
24 books2,302 followersC. L. Clark is a BFA award-winning editor and Ignyte award-winning author of several books, including The Unbroken (Magic of the Lost trilogy), Fate's Bane (a novella), and Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf (an Arcane novel). When she’s not writing, she’s trying not to throw her kettlebells through the wall. Her work has appeared in various SFF venues, including Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, Tor.com, Uncanny, and Beneath Ceaseless Skies. Sign up to her newsletter for updates and bonus materials.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 389 reviews
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December 11, 2024another revision read. good shit, obviously.
February 19, 2026
Loved!! I always knew she had the gas but this is the first time I’ve really connected with Clark’s work - the language is lush and purple but holds its ground through the politics and sensuality. I also think part of what makes this work is that Clark works with swords/crafting in their own life; there’s a physicality here that feels earnest and real. The perfect length and just the right amount of action and emotion to explore love, storytelling, revenge, and ritual.
I work for Macmillan but opinions are my own. I am not involved in book production
I work for Macmillan but opinions are my own. I am not involved in book production
August 19, 2025
One of my most anticipated releases of the year and it did NOT disappoint. Lyrical, tragic, cyclical, C.L. Clark has written one of my favorite kinds of books: about storytelling itself.
Clark’s prose in this novella is deliberate and studied, finger on the pulse of queer fantasy writers that have come before. (I know they’re especially a fan of Sofia Samatar’s work and The Winged Histories should be honored to have such a descendent; I could see the inspiration and it was a beautiful homage.) Its voice dances to a unique and noticeable rhythm, forming an effortless and enjoyable immersion into the world and tale at hand.
The how of the telling was indeed enchanting, but the what was just as meaty and vibrant. From it’s fire-bright core to its blurred ambiguous edges, the shape of this story is exactly the type of challenging narrative structure I adore. I initially think I saw this book compared to R&J around its announcement, which is what put it so high on my radar. And I think that this is one of the only things I’ve seen compared to R&J that deserves to be. It understands the power of disappointment, the pain of the lack found in tragedy.
This is a book about stories. About the importance of not just sharing stories and telling stories but listening to stories. Not for their plots or their characters, but for what they have to say. And I think the world could benefit so much from hearing what this story has to say: that the tales we tell and build our worlds on are not important because of what happened in them, but because their bones and their truths stay ever-present. And that when we forget the truth of these stories—the origins of them (not in place, or time, but in heart)—their dark edges and tendrils return, crafting new narratives with new heroes and new tragedies, to remind us of the voice we’ve silenced. But the story never changes. Not really.
And this story’s contours—its ambiguity, its cyclicality, its occlusion—forms a perfect vessel for its intention. It refuses to give the reader an easy way out or a satisfying catharsis, and it is those bold choices that really make the impact of this book so strong. This book might not be for everyone, but it is for itself and in that, it’s perfection.
I'm unbelievably impressed with this little novella, and am greatly looking forward to revisiting this in a final copy with the whole picture in mind.
Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
CW: death of family member, war, fantasy prejudice, grief, sexual content (implied), alcohol, death, confinement, slavery, kidnapping, child abuse, sexual harassment
Clark’s prose in this novella is deliberate and studied, finger on the pulse of queer fantasy writers that have come before. (I know they’re especially a fan of Sofia Samatar’s work and The Winged Histories should be honored to have such a descendent; I could see the inspiration and it was a beautiful homage.) Its voice dances to a unique and noticeable rhythm, forming an effortless and enjoyable immersion into the world and tale at hand.
The how of the telling was indeed enchanting, but the what was just as meaty and vibrant. From it’s fire-bright core to its blurred ambiguous edges, the shape of this story is exactly the type of challenging narrative structure I adore. I initially think I saw this book compared to R&J around its announcement, which is what put it so high on my radar. And I think that this is one of the only things I’ve seen compared to R&J that deserves to be. It understands the power of disappointment, the pain of the lack found in tragedy.
This is a book about stories. About the importance of not just sharing stories and telling stories but listening to stories. Not for their plots or their characters, but for what they have to say. And I think the world could benefit so much from hearing what this story has to say: that the tales we tell and build our worlds on are not important because of what happened in them, but because their bones and their truths stay ever-present. And that when we forget the truth of these stories—the origins of them (not in place, or time, but in heart)—their dark edges and tendrils return, crafting new narratives with new heroes and new tragedies, to remind us of the voice we’ve silenced. But the story never changes. Not really.
And this story’s contours—its ambiguity, its cyclicality, its occlusion—forms a perfect vessel for its intention. It refuses to give the reader an easy way out or a satisfying catharsis, and it is those bold choices that really make the impact of this book so strong. This book might not be for everyone, but it is for itself and in that, it’s perfection.
I'm unbelievably impressed with this little novella, and am greatly looking forward to revisiting this in a final copy with the whole picture in mind.
Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
CW: death of family member, war, fantasy prejudice, grief, sexual content (implied), alcohol, death, confinement, slavery, kidnapping, child abuse, sexual harassment
October 19, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up
The author calls these characters sad bog lesbians and that's pretty accurate! Fate's Bane is a fantasy novella about starcrossed lovers from warring factions. One young woman was captured as a child and is being raised by her enemies as a hostage to peace. But she befriends and quickly falls for her captor's daughter. After finding and drinking from a mythical spring, together they seem able to imbue power into tooled leather items that they create. But their love is forbidden and their families will come between them. It's kind of tragic, but beautifully written. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own
The author calls these characters sad bog lesbians and that's pretty accurate! Fate's Bane is a fantasy novella about starcrossed lovers from warring factions. One young woman was captured as a child and is being raised by her enemies as a hostage to peace. But she befriends and quickly falls for her captor's daughter. After finding and drinking from a mythical spring, together they seem able to imbue power into tooled leather items that they create. But their love is forbidden and their families will come between them. It's kind of tragic, but beautifully written. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own
Want to read
February 7, 2025i heard "tragic sapphic adventure" and came running
August 24, 2025
3.5 Stars
This was a solid fantasy novel pulling from Scottish culture. As someone who has always wanted to visit Scotland, I enjoyed the worldbuilding elements. I can be hit or miss with romance in my novels but Sapphic ones like these tend to win me over.
As a novella, this is quite short but it was well developed for such a short number of pages. I would recommend this one to readers who share my obsession with the Scottish clans or love a fantastical story that has a strong romantic element without sacrificing worldbuilding.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was a solid fantasy novel pulling from Scottish culture. As someone who has always wanted to visit Scotland, I enjoyed the worldbuilding elements. I can be hit or miss with romance in my novels but Sapphic ones like these tend to win me over.
As a novella, this is quite short but it was well developed for such a short number of pages. I would recommend this one to readers who share my obsession with the Scottish clans or love a fantastical story that has a strong romantic element without sacrificing worldbuilding.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
August 23, 2025
3.75 stars.
I'm not usually one for romance, but the Sapphic yearning was done very well in this little novella.
This was a quick and enjoyable read. The worldbuilding with the clan politics and life in the fens were detailed enough to create an insular world that drew you in without overburdening the reader with excessive details. It's a historical fantasy world that reads like a folk tale from the Anglo-Saxon times. For a novella, it was pretty immersive.
I'm not sure how I feel about the actual romance. But then again, I'm not a huge romance reader. I was actually more invested in how Agnir was forced to navigate inter and intra clan politics that the romance (in my mind) wasn't as pronounced as other reviewers found it to be.
I wasn't sure how I felt about the ending at first. But after re-reading and thinking it over, I think it really fits the story if you approach the novella as a folk tale or the origins of a myth. There was enough of a dreamlike quality to view this story as a "once upon a time" type of story instead of a "these are things that actually happened way back when." (If that makes any sense.)
Anyway, I'd recommend this for fans of yearning, tragic Sapphics, and historical fantasy.
Thank you to Tordotcom and NetGalley for this arc.
I'm not usually one for romance, but the Sapphic yearning was done very well in this little novella.
This was a quick and enjoyable read. The worldbuilding with the clan politics and life in the fens were detailed enough to create an insular world that drew you in without overburdening the reader with excessive details. It's a historical fantasy world that reads like a folk tale from the Anglo-Saxon times. For a novella, it was pretty immersive.
I'm not sure how I feel about the actual romance. But then again, I'm not a huge romance reader. I was actually more invested in how Agnir was forced to navigate inter and intra clan politics that the romance (in my mind) wasn't as pronounced as other reviewers found it to be.
I wasn't sure how I felt about the ending at first. But after re-reading and thinking it over, I think it really fits the story if you approach the novella as a folk tale or the origins of a myth. There was enough of a dreamlike quality to view this story as a "once upon a time" type of story instead of a "these are things that actually happened way back when." (If that makes any sense.)
Anyway, I'd recommend this for fans of yearning, tragic Sapphics, and historical fantasy.
Thank you to Tordotcom and NetGalley for this arc.
June 17, 2025
“They called it trickster, they called it the luck-hound, they called it fates-bane.”
Thank you to Netgalley and @tordotcompub for the eARC.
I loved this book. It’s such a beautiful, beautiful tale. I have to talk about the ending first. I have read some amazing endings before but I was not ready for this one. C. L. Clark makes no consideration for their readers’ poor, poor hearts. It’s an explosive triple threat that leaves the reader going through the whole gamut of human emotion. Truly masterful work. It is perfect, more than satisfying, and absolutely elevates the whole story.
I went in blind and I suggest everyone try that too. It has an awesome cover (take a bow- Mary Metzgr and Christine Foltzer) and is written by C. L. Clark. Those were enough for me. Since I just said it is best to go in blind, I will not talk about the plot. I will simply say that if you liked things in Spear by Nicola Griffith, The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi, This is how you lose the time war by Max Gladstone & Amal El-Mohtar, The river has roots by Amal El-Mohtar - You will certainly like this book too. It stands alone as an extremely unique tale but it shares elements from those other books.
The writing in particular is very similar for me to Moses Ose Utomi’s Forever Desert series. It is a kind of a fairy tale or a fable with themes of mythology, segregation, truth, and culture. The actual prose is gorgeous too and complements the setting so well. Add in the narrative closeness to the fable nature of the story, lush swampland atmosphere and the reader can see how well all of it plays service to transporting the reader out of the room they’re in and into the book itself. This is one of those books where the land itself becomes a character in the story. Agnir is an excellent character to follow and the readers will be invested in her really quickly. The supporting cast also feels very, very authentic and real.
Romance is a very important part of this story and it is executed superbly. Despite being a short novella -I am certain it will satisfy the most ardent fans of yearning. I’m ending the review with a direct quote from C. L. Clark that sums up my review as well - you will certainly not regret adding two sad swamp lesbians to your TBR.
Thank you to Netgalley and @tordotcompub for the eARC.
I loved this book. It’s such a beautiful, beautiful tale. I have to talk about the ending first. I have read some amazing endings before but I was not ready for this one. C. L. Clark makes no consideration for their readers’ poor, poor hearts. It’s an explosive triple threat that leaves the reader going through the whole gamut of human emotion. Truly masterful work. It is perfect, more than satisfying, and absolutely elevates the whole story.
I went in blind and I suggest everyone try that too. It has an awesome cover (take a bow- Mary Metzgr and Christine Foltzer) and is written by C. L. Clark. Those were enough for me. Since I just said it is best to go in blind, I will not talk about the plot. I will simply say that if you liked things in Spear by Nicola Griffith, The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi, This is how you lose the time war by Max Gladstone & Amal El-Mohtar, The river has roots by Amal El-Mohtar - You will certainly like this book too. It stands alone as an extremely unique tale but it shares elements from those other books.
The writing in particular is very similar for me to Moses Ose Utomi’s Forever Desert series. It is a kind of a fairy tale or a fable with themes of mythology, segregation, truth, and culture. The actual prose is gorgeous too and complements the setting so well. Add in the narrative closeness to the fable nature of the story, lush swampland atmosphere and the reader can see how well all of it plays service to transporting the reader out of the room they’re in and into the book itself. This is one of those books where the land itself becomes a character in the story. Agnir is an excellent character to follow and the readers will be invested in her really quickly. The supporting cast also feels very, very authentic and real.
Romance is a very important part of this story and it is executed superbly. Despite being a short novella -I am certain it will satisfy the most ardent fans of yearning. I’m ending the review with a direct quote from C. L. Clark that sums up my review as well - you will certainly not regret adding two sad swamp lesbians to your TBR.
Want to read
February 8, 2025a magical lil queer novella set in the fens from the muscliest sword-wielding lesbian in SFF? yes please
February 8, 2026
It upsets me having to rate this book two stars because it has so much potential...
Unfortunately, I found that the book's length was its biggest flaw.
It was much too short to establish a solid emotional foundation for the two characters you are supposed to be rooting for, which was a shame, because both could have been interesting if given more space to be established and defined. I quite liked both of them, but given the fast pacing, time jumps, and the book sort of starting in the middle of everything, I never felt like I got to know them or to feel why they liked each other.
It is said that they have known each other for much of their lives, but the reader does not get much insight into those years of friendship that then evolve into romance. Had the book been 200 pages longer, with more depth and insight into their friendship and bond, I am almost certain it would have been a beautiful, emotionally hard-hitting story.
That said, I have to praise Clark for the writing. The writing was often lyrical, making it a delight to read.
It was not a bad book, but it fell short because of its length, which unfortunately served as self-sabotage for a story that could have been sublime had it been allowed to fully explore its potential.
Unfortunately, I found that the book's length was its biggest flaw.
It was much too short to establish a solid emotional foundation for the two characters you are supposed to be rooting for, which was a shame, because both could have been interesting if given more space to be established and defined. I quite liked both of them, but given the fast pacing, time jumps, and the book sort of starting in the middle of everything, I never felt like I got to know them or to feel why they liked each other.
It is said that they have known each other for much of their lives, but the reader does not get much insight into those years of friendship that then evolve into romance. Had the book been 200 pages longer, with more depth and insight into their friendship and bond, I am almost certain it would have been a beautiful, emotionally hard-hitting story.
That said, I have to praise Clark for the writing. The writing was often lyrical, making it a delight to read.
It was not a bad book, but it fell short because of its length, which unfortunately served as self-sabotage for a story that could have been sublime had it been allowed to fully explore its potential.
May 29, 2025
thank you to edelweiss for the free drc - YAY i love novellas! the ending really did not work for me personally :( so that sucked but everything else about this was MWAH chef's kiss. great prose, compelling characters, great worldbuilding (you don't need to read the author's other work before this, but this definitely piqued my interest in the other stories). if you like Spear by Nicola Griffith you will probably also really, REALLY like this. historical fiction/fantasy lesbians my beloved ....
September 6, 2025
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In the aftermath of a bloody battle between clans of the Fens, young Agnir Clan Fein, firstborn of her clan, is captured by the Aradoc clan. Seeing in her an opportunity to avoid retaliation, the leader of the Aradoc clan decides to keep her as a ward (read: political prisoner) and raise her with his own children. There, she falls deeply in love with Hadhnri, the second-born of the Aradoc clan, and their vows of eternal devotion sworn above a magical spring become the stuff of legends.
First, I'll say this book shines brightest with its resonant themes and beautiful scenery. The first half feels familiar in its themes, as at its core it can be compared to Clark's Magic of the Lost series: both highlight warring factions, falling in love with the enemy, and the pain of divided loyalties. However, it's completely fresh in its approach to those themes with novel worldbuilding, a different magic system, and more. It's also very respectful of your time: the story has a job to do and paces its events well, not letting you linger in comfort too long.
My only complaint is with the prose. It shifts from poetic to flowery to almost-unintelligible toward the end, and I was fighting for my life in the last few chapters. I ended up frustrated having to go back and forth between paragraphs to make sure I understood what was happening on the page. I understand the shift in style is meant to reflect the folklore aspect of the story, but I feel the effect could have been achieved without being quite so abstract in the wording.
I didn't mind the multiple endings or that the tonal shift happens at all: as a matter of fact, I think it was brilliant and did justice to all the variants a cultural legend can have. (Do you know how many variations the ending of Swan Lake has? So many! Who's to say which is the "right" one?) I thought it was thematically resonant and a stroke of genius from the author. I just wish the writing style had been a bit less artsy. (Maybe I've also been reading too much monster smut lately 💀)
All in all, this was a wonderful read. Despite my quibbles about the opaque prose at the end, I believe it does justice to its strong themes and delivers an emotionally resonant romance, which is hard to achieve in so few pages. It's impossible not to draw a parallel between this book and the classic Romeo & Juliet, too, which has also inspired other sapphic tragedies coming out this year... What a time to be alive; all I can say is that I feel truly blessed by these!
In the aftermath of a bloody battle between clans of the Fens, young Agnir Clan Fein, firstborn of her clan, is captured by the Aradoc clan. Seeing in her an opportunity to avoid retaliation, the leader of the Aradoc clan decides to keep her as a ward (read: political prisoner) and raise her with his own children. There, she falls deeply in love with Hadhnri, the second-born of the Aradoc clan, and their vows of eternal devotion sworn above a magical spring become the stuff of legends.
First, I'll say this book shines brightest with its resonant themes and beautiful scenery. The first half feels familiar in its themes, as at its core it can be compared to Clark's Magic of the Lost series: both highlight warring factions, falling in love with the enemy, and the pain of divided loyalties. However, it's completely fresh in its approach to those themes with novel worldbuilding, a different magic system, and more. It's also very respectful of your time: the story has a job to do and paces its events well, not letting you linger in comfort too long.
My only complaint is with the prose. It shifts from poetic to flowery to almost-unintelligible toward the end, and I was fighting for my life in the last few chapters. I ended up frustrated having to go back and forth between paragraphs to make sure I understood what was happening on the page. I understand the shift in style is meant to reflect the folklore aspect of the story, but I feel the effect could have been achieved without being quite so abstract in the wording.
I didn't mind the multiple endings or that the tonal shift happens at all: as a matter of fact, I think it was brilliant and did justice to all the variants a cultural legend can have. (Do you know how many variations the ending of Swan Lake has? So many! Who's to say which is the "right" one?) I thought it was thematically resonant and a stroke of genius from the author. I just wish the writing style had been a bit less artsy. (Maybe I've also been reading too much monster smut lately 💀)
All in all, this was a wonderful read. Despite my quibbles about the opaque prose at the end, I believe it does justice to its strong themes and delivers an emotionally resonant romance, which is hard to achieve in so few pages. It's impossible not to draw a parallel between this book and the classic Romeo & Juliet, too, which has also inspired other sapphic tragedies coming out this year... What a time to be alive; all I can say is that I feel truly blessed by these!
May 24, 2025
Fate’s Bane was my first book by C. L. Clark, but it won’t be my last. Clark’s writing is beautiful. It’s lyrical. It’s different from anything I’ve ever read. I felt like I was in the middle of a painting while reading this. I really enjoyed this world, which I was sucked into from page one. It’s atmospheric and interesting and she did so much world building in such a short amount of time. I loved these characters and this star crossed lovers story and the idea that love is magic. And a bit tragic. 10/10 emotional sapphic love story.
“I loved you the moment I saw you in the dark, with the slaves—before I even knew what love was. And when I learned, I loved you all the more.”
“I loved you the moment I saw you in the dark, with the slaves—before I even knew what love was. And when I learned, I loved you all the more.”
Read
June 22, 2025The star-crossed lover tragedy aspect would have worked better if the love interest has been given a personality unfortunately. Very pretty book when it comes to aesthetic and the Old English legend aspect but very weak in the romantic department which once again is supposed to be the central pillar of this whole book. I really liked what Fate's Bane attempted with its ending I just wish there had been more buildup for the emotional payoff
September 27, 2025
listen i know that ending was deliberate but I WANTTT PROPER CLOSURE HELLOOOO otherwise this book was sooo good
January 10, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up. I enjoyed the world building, which was detailed for a novella, and I enjoyed Agnir's and Hadhnri's romance. The writing itself was good, too.
Two things stopped me from rating this higher, however. The first is that while the writing is good, I didn't gel with the writing style. I get that this was a tale being told to the reader, but I just wasn't a fan. The second is the ending. Again, I understand this was a tale being told, and like tales, they change with each retelling, to the point where time and word of mouth changes them completely. I would have just liked a more solid ending.
Two things stopped me from rating this higher, however. The first is that while the writing is good, I didn't gel with the writing style. I get that this was a tale being told to the reader, but I just wasn't a fan. The second is the ending. Again, I understand this was a tale being told, and like tales, they change with each retelling, to the point where time and word of mouth changes them completely. I would have just liked a more solid ending.
Want to read
August 9, 2025Tor won't ever approve my ARC requests so here I am waiting (im)patiently for this book :')
February 18, 2026
I wanted to like this book more than I did, sadly. The premise sounds so good!
The multiple endings was a unique choice, and I appreciate it on an intellectual level, but they weren’t SATISFYING.
The magic and world building didn’t make sense in many places.
Favorite passage:
"Are those-your bracers."
I nodded grimly. If I could not wear them in battle, then Onsgar would, and may the luck-hound protect him.
"I made those for you."
"I thought I was not the girl you made them for?"
The multiple endings was a unique choice, and I appreciate it on an intellectual level, but they weren’t SATISFYING.
The magic and world building didn’t make sense in many places.
Favorite passage:
"Are those-your bracers."
I nodded grimly. If I could not wear them in battle, then Onsgar would, and may the luck-hound protect him.
"I made those for you."
"I thought I was not the girl you made them for?"
February 1, 2026
Can never go wrong with tragic sapphics honestly
November 18, 2025
I really enjoyed this book a lot, and I love the sad swamp lesbians, but the ending was a bit of both for me. I love the idea of it, and it was well done and so on, but my heart wanted something that was more... closure.
February 24, 2026
Another banger finished, leaving me speechless. Reading this book felt like being in a dream. The plot was so well structured and the characters were chef's kiss. So sad that it is so short and that theres' no second part.
If you really think that I would honestly say this about that book, then please never talk to me again.
Did it feel like being in a dream? Yes - a fever dream.
Was the plot well structured? God, no. Were the characters great? No, just mid.
The story starts somewhere in the middle of everything. We have two clans (Clan Aradoc and Clan Fein), somehow at peace but somehow not. Agnir Clan Fein meets Hadhnri Clan Aradoc. Agnir was captured (idek) and lived for several years in Clan Aradoc. Obviously, both girls fall in love but can't be together because they are from separate clans that don't like each other. Wow what a surprise.
Either the world structure, the familiar structure nor the politics were described, which was why I had absolutely no idea what was going on. There was also a magical thingy involved (the Fates Bane wow), but i don't know what its purpose was. Nothing made sense to me.
Is it sad that the book is so short? Maybe.
Hear me out. If the book were 200 pages longer, there would be a chance to actually get to know everything. There would be plenty of time to explain everything and still form a love story that goes into more depth than it did. I think I wouldn't have read this book if it had more than 300 pages (I just picked this book for the "swoony stories" achievement, because it was the shortest one), but if I were into romantasy or romance, I would prefer it to be longer so that it can be better structured and described.
I'm also positively surprised that there wasn't any smut, because it seemed to me that this book would mainly be smut and the plot secondary. But like this, everything is irrelevant, so i don't know if this is better.
I'm just glad this is over and I don't know if I should even rate this book.
If you really think that I would honestly say this about that book, then please never talk to me again.
Did it feel like being in a dream? Yes - a fever dream.
Was the plot well structured? God, no. Were the characters great? No, just mid.
The story starts somewhere in the middle of everything. We have two clans (Clan Aradoc and Clan Fein), somehow at peace but somehow not. Agnir Clan Fein meets Hadhnri Clan Aradoc. Agnir was captured (idek) and lived for several years in Clan Aradoc. Obviously, both girls fall in love but can't be together because they are from separate clans that don't like each other. Wow what a surprise.
Either the world structure, the familiar structure nor the politics were described, which was why I had absolutely no idea what was going on. There was also a magical thingy involved (the Fates Bane wow), but i don't know what its purpose was. Nothing made sense to me.
Is it sad that the book is so short? Maybe.
Hear me out. If the book were 200 pages longer, there would be a chance to actually get to know everything. There would be plenty of time to explain everything and still form a love story that goes into more depth than it did. I think I wouldn't have read this book if it had more than 300 pages (I just picked this book for the "swoony stories" achievement, because it was the shortest one), but if I were into romantasy or romance, I would prefer it to be longer so that it can be better structured and described.
I'm also positively surprised that there wasn't any smut, because it seemed to me that this book would mainly be smut and the plot secondary. But like this, everything is irrelevant, so i don't know if this is better.
I'm just glad this is over and I don't know if I should even rate this book.
September 24, 2025
This novella packs an absolute punch in terms of world-building, romance, and fantasy all in less than 200 pages. I really enjoyed the journey that this took me on, as well as the meta about storytelling and how this is essentially a story about storytelling and oral traditions, and how they change in different circumstances.
Clark's writing is very lyrical and it's easy to fall into the story with the lush details and worldbuilding. I want to know more about this world that's been created here! The romance especially is fantastic; often times, I find that novellas rush romances since the overall book is so short, but this one has proper development and character building. It progressed naturally and didn't feel forced. Most importantly, it's super sweet! I will say, it was a bit strange that they were sorta(?) foster sisters/part of the same family, but it's a little more complicated than that, so it didn't bother me too much.
The reason I rated it 4/5 stars is because I wish there was more information on the magic system and how it worked. It was a bit unclear as to the underlying workings of it, as well as whether or not other people in the world have magic (or if they know magic exists in the way it does in the protagonist). Maybe the point of it is that it's supposed to be unclear (kinda how details are vague in stories passed down over time); however, I would have liked a few more details.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Clark's writing is very lyrical and it's easy to fall into the story with the lush details and worldbuilding. I want to know more about this world that's been created here! The romance especially is fantastic; often times, I find that novellas rush romances since the overall book is so short, but this one has proper development and character building. It progressed naturally and didn't feel forced. Most importantly, it's super sweet! I will say, it was a bit strange that they were sorta(?) foster sisters/part of the same family, but it's a little more complicated than that, so it didn't bother me too much.
The reason I rated it 4/5 stars is because I wish there was more information on the magic system and how it worked. It was a bit unclear as to the underlying workings of it, as well as whether or not other people in the world have magic (or if they know magic exists in the way it does in the protagonist). Maybe the point of it is that it's supposed to be unclear (kinda how details are vague in stories passed down over time); however, I would have liked a few more details.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
October 14, 2025
4✨ A stunning and tragic sapphic tale that reads like spoken word. (Oh how I would’ve loved to experience this in audio format) This felt fresh and original, yet classic and timeless at the same time. The amount that was achieved in such a small number of pages was truly impressive. From the prose to the world building to the journey. Painfully romantic with the ache of forbidden love. A story about storytelling itself.
I love when authors take risks and craft outside of the mold- even more so when the delivery is strong and as effective as the intention. I am so intrigued and excited to pick up more of C.L. Clark’s work!
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for providing an e-ARC ✨
I love when authors take risks and craft outside of the mold- even more so when the delivery is strong and as effective as the intention. I am so intrigued and excited to pick up more of C.L. Clark’s work!
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for providing an e-ARC ✨
January 6, 2026
4.5 | un romance prohibido lesbiano y trágico como para levantar las vibras de este inicio de año. me voy YA a descargar la trilogía de esta tipa porque su escritura efectivamente me robó el corazón
May 1, 2025
I love these sad swamp lesbians! This was a beautiful novella that felt just about the perfect length, though I also wouldn't have said no to a full length novel of this haha.
March 3, 2026
One star is a little harsh since this book didn’t offend me, politically or craft-wise, I just realized upon setting it down on page 101 (almost 2/3 of the way through the novella) that I had no desire to pick it back up, and did not care a whit about the characters or what happened to them. So I skimmed the final 15-20 pages for completion’s sake and called it a day. Admittedly, I picked this up for potential Hugo nomination reading (I keep trying—and failing—to find novellas by authors outside the same-old-same-old that I’d actually want to nominate) and not because the “lesbian Romeo and Juliet in the fens�� premise particularly speaks to me. So if it does you, my reaction probably won’t predict yours.
That said, unfortunately I didn’t find anything to appreciate here. The plot moves very slowly for such a short book. The characters are standard-issue, the narrator possessing no personality traits that I could discern. Their romance likewise is standard stuff. The writing style is professional but unremarkable. The setting is competently drawn but can’t carry the book on its own. The ambiguous, mythological-leaning ending is sort of interesting, except that it meshes poorly with a first-person narrator who definitely knows what happened. Overall, skippable unless this premise deeply speaks to you.
That said, unfortunately I didn’t find anything to appreciate here. The plot moves very slowly for such a short book. The characters are standard-issue, the narrator possessing no personality traits that I could discern. Their romance likewise is standard stuff. The writing style is professional but unremarkable. The setting is competently drawn but can’t carry the book on its own. The ambiguous, mythological-leaning ending is sort of interesting, except that it meshes poorly with a first-person narrator who definitely knows what happened. Overall, skippable unless this premise deeply speaks to you.
January 6, 2026
Review to come! 🌀
(FINAL REVIEW:)
This was a wonderful Romeo & Juliet like tale set in a Celtic inspired world. I enjoyed the dynamics of the clans, the sense of honor, family, and name, and a forbidden love that blooms no despite being almost literally beaten out of the women. While I did wish we could’ve had more insight into the magic system itself and the god Bannos, I still had a great time with this. ⚔️
The story follows Agnir, a stolen child turned ward of her clan’s greatest enemy. She’s understandably cautious, slow to anger, and quick to forgive. All of this is the opposite of her fiery love, Hadhnri. I liked that their love is a genuine bond that grows with being close to one another and that they both push each other to see outside their perspectives. 👩🏾❤️💋👩🏽
The two things that I wished I could’ve gotten more of in the book was a better understanding of how the women’s Makings powers work in totality. I also wish the story went into more detail about the Banewood, Bannos, and the luck-hound because they were such interesting elements to the plot overall. ✨
All in all, great novella and introduction into Clark’s work for me. I’m very excited to get into their previous works in the future! Thank you goes to Tordotcom Publishing and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest review, and to Clark for crafting such a wonderful Celtic inspired tale. ❤️
Publication date: September 30!
Overall: 4.25/5 ⭐️
(FINAL REVIEW:)
This was a wonderful Romeo & Juliet like tale set in a Celtic inspired world. I enjoyed the dynamics of the clans, the sense of honor, family, and name, and a forbidden love that blooms no despite being almost literally beaten out of the women. While I did wish we could’ve had more insight into the magic system itself and the god Bannos, I still had a great time with this. ⚔️
The story follows Agnir, a stolen child turned ward of her clan’s greatest enemy. She’s understandably cautious, slow to anger, and quick to forgive. All of this is the opposite of her fiery love, Hadhnri. I liked that their love is a genuine bond that grows with being close to one another and that they both push each other to see outside their perspectives. 👩🏾❤️💋👩🏽
The two things that I wished I could’ve gotten more of in the book was a better understanding of how the women’s Makings powers work in totality. I also wish the story went into more detail about the Banewood, Bannos, and the luck-hound because they were such interesting elements to the plot overall. ✨
All in all, great novella and introduction into Clark’s work for me. I’m very excited to get into their previous works in the future! Thank you goes to Tordotcom Publishing and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest review, and to Clark for crafting such a wonderful Celtic inspired tale. ❤️
Publication date: September 30!
Overall: 4.25/5 ⭐️
November 12, 2025
Man, I love stories about stories, and this is a really great entry into that theme. The whole thing surrounded me like I was sitting in front of a hearth being told this folktale from eons ago. I was obsessed with the writing, it managed to be both lyrical and grounding in a way that worked perfectly for the story being told. And that story was told SO masterfully, every sentence and choice felt intentional and I can tell there was a lot of heart put into this teeny novella. I was originally going to give this a 4 instead of a 5 because I didn't have enough time to really get to know the characters or be invested in the relationship, especially because there was so much plot that needed to be covered. But then I realized it was definitely a choice to elevate the folktale quality of it-- the characters in old, foundational stories don't often feel totally human, because what they represent is more important than who they were. And that in itself is part of the brilliance of this; it's not about fully empathizing with the main characters or rooting for their romance, it's about how their story is a result of everything that came before and shaped the future of everything after. I have no choice but to applaud and give this beautifully executed book the full 5 stars it deserves.
I was a C.L. Clark skeptic after being unimpressed by The Unbroken, but this has for sure elevated her into an author to watch for me!
I was a C.L. Clark skeptic after being unimpressed by The Unbroken, but this has for sure elevated her into an author to watch for me!
October 11, 2025
“it is the fate of lovers. to call. to come.”
lovers to enemies > enemies to lovers
in the aftermath of a battle, agnir is taken as the ward of an enemy clan—an act that brokers a tentative peace between their clans—and falls for the chieftain’s daughter. though their love is forbidden, they pledge themselves to each other in secret and awaken a secret only to be torn apart to fight on opposite sides of the reignited war.
oh.
oh.
the romeo and juliet comps are accurate. agnir and hadhnri are a tragedy. they are star-crossed lovers, doomed by the narrative, etc. yearners rejoice. but even more than a love story, fate’s bane is a story about stories and folklore and legends. reading it felt like listening to an old, well-worn fable that has changed hands so many times that a dozen variants exist and no one can confirm which is “correct”—if one ever was at all. perhaps the point isn’t in the accuracy of the ending, but the telling of the tale itself.
i suspect fans of this is how you lose the time war will appreciate fate’s bane as well. it packs an emotional punch and it’s one that i look forward to rereading in the future!
i received an ARC from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars, rtc
April 29, 2025
3.5?? Fate's Bane has an enchanting quality to it. In many ways, this reminded me of This is How You Lose the Time War, another sapphic novella about two women on opposite ends of a war. This book is slightly different though; it's softer and has a dream-like quality to it. The world is reminiscent of many old tales and legends. The ending is quite up to interpretation, which I know won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I really enjoyed it and I think the ending added to the fairytale/myth of it all. The sapphics, of course, were delightful. I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style, but I know this will hit all the right notes for many others.
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