Thousands of years ago, seven gods rebelled against their own and attempted to seize the Crown, an artifact that gave its bearer the power to rule the Heavens. In punishment for their crimes, the souls of the seven gods were each divided into seven different fragments that were then scattered across the Earth. In place of each fragment, a being known as a Fracture was born. Fractures know nothing of their peculiar existence—that they were once part of a god and still bear residual powers which make them greater than most humans. And, most dangerously, that they can grow in power and return to their godly state if all seven Fractures of a god meet.
Valen is an assassin of The Preservation Society, an organization dedicated to monitoring Fractures. Having been exposed to nothing but The Society, Valen knows only one thing with absolute certainty: Fractures are dangerous and must never realize their power.
Unaware of The Preservation Society's existence, Cassandra lives in a psychiatric facility, locked away by her parents because she’s plagued by psychic visions. Visions that, unbeknownst to her, reveal her status as a Fracture. After having a particularly revealing vision, she’s taken by The Preservation Society and imprisoned in their headquarters.
When Valen learns of Cassandra’s presence within The Society, she soon discovers the organization harbors deadly secrets about the Fractures to which they guard. Armed with a trove of forbidden knowledge, Valen and Cassandra flee from The Society, determined to outrun the organization before they can be killed for the information they hold.
Luck nor time is on their side.
Fans of “Lore” by Alexandra Bracken, “The Mortal Instruments” by Cassandra Clare, or “The Queen of Days” by Greta Kelly will enjoy “Fractures of the Fallen” by Ella Dupuie.
When Ella Dupuie is not watching old monster movies or bingeing Supernatural, she can be found at Northwestern State University’s Scholars’ College, where she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in English. She loves heavy metal music, spending time with her cat, Rogue, and buying beautiful books. She resides in Louisiana.
4.75🌟ARC This author blew my mind. What a different take on fantasy. I felt so connected to each of the main characters and the sass was on point. I need to know who was it that saw Valen running in the woods in the epilogue??!! I was so lucky to be choosen to receive an advance copy of this however I will be hitting up the bookstore for a shelf trophy for sure!!
I have had the pleasure and the honor of reading Ella Dupuie’s Fractures of the Fallen as an ARC reader. The book releases on August 25th, and you’re going to want to buy it. I read it in one day. It’s well-written, in multiple POVS, no spice, lots of action, and a true page turner. I couldn’t put it down! You’ll fall in love with Valen and her team, minus 1 who shall not be named, well, two really. The book takes you on a journey of friendship (love their banter), found family (new and old), adventures (betrayal & action), and a lot of fantasy thrown into the mix! I really love the reference and use of sign language throughout the entirety of the book! I look forward to reading her future books!
Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The story was definitely the strongest part of this book for me. The premise is really interesting, and once everything finally started coming together, I was hooked. The last part of the book had me flying through the pages, and now I genuinely want to know where the series goes from here.
Characters ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked the characters, but I never felt as connected to them as I wanted to. A lot of their biggest decisions and relationships happened really fast, and I wish we’d gotten more time to see those things develop naturally. By the end I cared what happened to them, but I still wanted more.
Worldbuilding ⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was probably my biggest struggle. There were so many new terms, rules, and reveals that I constantly felt like I was trying to catch up. I don’t mind a mystery, but I felt like I was missing too much information for too long. Once things started clicking, I liked the world a lot more, but getting there was rough.
Writing ⭐️⭐️⭐️ The writing itself wasn’t bad, but there were a few things that kept pulling me out of the story. Some things felt over-explained while other really important details weren’t explained until much later. I also noticed a few repeated words and some moments where the characters didn’t always feel consistent with how they’d been introduced.
Emotional Impact ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The ending definitely got me more than I expected. By that point I’d finally settled into the story, so seeing everything fall apart actually hit. I just wish I’d felt a little more attached to some of the characters before everything happened.
Overall Enjoyment ⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was a hard book for me to rate because my feelings changed so much while I was reading. I struggled through a lot of the beginning, but the second half was so much stronger. I’m glad I stuck with it because I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would.
Personal Preference ⭐️⭐️ At the end of the day, this just wasn’t the best fit for my reading preferences. I like fantasy that gives me a little more to hold onto early on instead of making me piece everything together for most of the book. I can definitely see other readers loving that style—it just wasn’t for me.
Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I think this is a solid debut with a really interesting premise. The first half was a challenge for me, but once the story found its footing, I was invested. I still have my frustrations with the pacing of the worldbuilding and some of the character development, but I’m curious enough that I’d pick up the next book.
We all wonder about secret societies working in the shadows to influence humanity’s path, but what if you worked for one? Valen does just that. She and six other teammates form an elite squad that helps keep the world safe. Seven gods of old were fractured into seven pieces when they threatened to take over and destroy everything. Now the Society monitors those 49 fractures, manifested as seven identical people for each fallen god, from their headquarters in modern-day Kansas. The Society ensures the fractures do not meet and attempt to regain their godly status. Valen’s tactical team is who they send in when intervention is needed. Valen soon comes face to face with Cassandra, one of the fractures brought in to the Society’s headquarters. After meeting, Valen suddenly must make a choice. Continue to believe what she’s always been told about fractures, or find out more for herself. Overall, I really enjoyed this book! Valen’s sarcasm and wit make me cheer for her on every step of her journey. Cassandra’s quiet resilience is so relatable, and the squad member’s dynamic always keeps me on my toes. Ella Dupuie really does a great job balancing a large cast of characters! Giving the seven squad members distinct voices can be a challenge, but Ella tackles it seamlessly. The pacing at the beginning as she sets up the world is a little slower to allow you to take it all in, but then you are off and running. Exploring themes such as indoctrination, self-identity and found family, Ella pushes the question, what if the things you’ve been taught to believe are a lie? I really enjoy how Ella can explore these tough coming-of-age questions and keep the humor intact. My forever favorite line will forever be from Valen herself, “If anyone judges me for these muffins after the week I’ve had, I’ll buy another one just to shove up their…”, well you get the idea. If you miss Buffy Summers’ one liners, and can’t get enough of Ridoc Gamlyn’s wit, then you will enjoy this read! Ella blends the fantastical with the modern world in such a seamless way, that you’ll be asking yourself, is the Society out there?
The first word that came to mind when I finished Fractures of the Fallen was simple: Wow! If you haven't heard of this book or its author, Ella Dupuie, don't worry—you will soon. I have no doubt that Fractures of the Fallen is destined to be the next big thing, and I imagine it's only a matter of time before it starts appearing on bestseller lists everywhere. I am beyond honored to have had the opportunity to read this novel as an ARC reader and share my thoughts. What makes this achievement even more impressive is that this is Ella Dupuie's debut novel. Her talent for storytelling, world-building, and character development is so refined that I was genuinely shocked to learn this was her first published work. Fractures of the Fallen contains many of the elements readers love in popular fantasy novels: strong, distinctive characters, an exciting and fast-paced plot, and a formidable dark enemy. However, what truly sets this book apart is its originality. Dupuie introduces a fascinating concept in which fallen gods are broken into separate pieces known as "fractures," exploring the consequences of separation and the power—and danger—of reunification. The idea is both creative and captivating, adding a fresh perspective to the fantasy genre. Valen is a vibrant and compelling protagonist, supported by a lovable cast of allies that readers will quickly grow attached to. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Dupuie has crafted a villain so chillingly realistic and sinister that I found myself genuinely feeling animosity toward them—a testament to the author's skill. From the moment I finished the book, I wanted to tell all my friends and family that they need to read it. I absolutely loved every moment of this story and can't wait to watch the rest of the world discover and fall in love with it as well. ★★★★★ An unforgettable debut that fantasy fans won't want to miss.
I don't even know where to begin with this book because it completely shattered every expectation I had. I have read a lot of fantasy, but I can honestly say I have never encountered a concept quite like this. The idea of fallen gods being broken into seven identical people is so incredibly original that I found myself stopping just to appreciate how brilliantly unique it was. It wasn't just an interesting premise. Ella took this bold, imaginative concept and turned it into something that felt completely real. Every revelation made perfect sense within the world she created, and I was captivated from beginning to end.
This story put me through every emotion imaginable. I gasped out loud at twists I never saw coming, and more than once I found myself wiping away tears. The emotional depth of these characters is extraordinary. Their struggles, sacrifices, and relationships felt so genuine that it was impossible not to become invested in every single one of them.
Ella's writing is immersive, emotional, and unforgettable. She has created a world unlike anything I have ever read or even heard of before. It's rare to find a book that is both wildly inventive and emotionally devastating, but this one manages to be both. Long after I turned the final page, I was still thinking about the characters, the world, and everything they endured. I am just a little sad now that I will need to wait till the next book to see what happens with these characters!
This is the kind of book that reminds you why you fell in love with reading in the first place. If you're looking for a fantasy that dares to be different, takes risks, and delivers an emotional experience you'll never forget, this book is an absolute must-read.
The worldbuilding surrounding the gods, fractures, and gifts is incredibly well done. Each god’s power is woven through the characters in a way that’s descriptive but never overwhelming, constantly making you question what each gift is truly capable of and how it will come into play later. Every reveal feels like another puzzle piece falling into place, making the story feel immersive and easy to get lost in from start to finish.
As someone who loves Greek mythology, I was fascinated by how the gods and their abilities were layered into the magic system. The fact that each god holds multiple powers adds so much depth and complexity, and while it can feel like a lot of information at first, everything is introduced with clear intention. As the story unfolds, those details slowly click into place in the most satisfying way.
There’s also something so impressive about an author who plants details early on—whether through worldbuilding or a character’s past—and then brings them back later in meaningful ways. I love when a story rewards you for paying attention, where small moments you almost overlook end up becoming major pieces of foreshadowing. That sense of everything connecting is what makes the plot so unforgettable.
The action, political tension, gods, secret teams, spies, betrayals, and constant twists make this story incredibly gripping and hard to put down. Even without romance being the focus, the intensity of the plot carries it completely and keeps you hooked the entire time.
Only note: there were no content warnings provided, but readers should be aware it includes mentions of death, gore, and blood, and it ends on a cliffhanger.
There’s nothing I love more than supporting an indie author, so I was really excited to see this book float across my feed. I didn’t know much about this book, though as we know, all you have to say to me is “trials” or “challenges” and I am HERE FOR IT.
Premise: Thousands of years ago, seven gods rebelled against their own and attempted to seize the Crown, an artifact that gave its bearer the power to rule the Heavens. In punishment for their crimes, the souls of the seven gods were each divided into seven different fragments that were then scattered across the Earth. In place of each fragment, a being known as a Fracture was born. Valen is an assassin of The Preservation Society, an organization dedicated to monitoring Fractures. Having been exposed to nothing but The Society, Valen knows only one thing with absolute certainty: Fractures are dangerous and must never realize their power.
I really loved Valen and her purpose as the female main character within the story. I sometimes feel disconnected with the FMCs, but quite the opposite was the case with this book. I was surprised at how many twists and turns were in this book. I was able to really feel every different emotion as I was reading and there were days that I just couldn’t put it down.
I really liked that this was a “fantasy” book set in a modern day setting with current technology. That made the book stand out a little bit when being compared to other books like it. All in all, a great debut book by Ella and I really can’t wait to see what else she comes up with.
Thousands of years ago seven gods were punished for rebelling against their own with each God being "fractured into seven fragments destined to be born over and over again. Seven identical people, all part of one ancient god, all completely unaware.. Today the fractures are monitored by a secret society ensuring that they never meet preventing the risk of powers and memories being regained.. Everything appears to be running smoothly until one of the societies operatives discovers a fracture that looks identical to her.. As she comes to terms with the fact that she is in fact the very thing that she has been raised to fear and hunt, she also discovers that everything she and her fellow seven operatives were raised to believe is in fact a lie...
All I can say is that this book took me completely by surprise and was a complete adrenaline ride from start to finish.. I found the whole idea absolutely fascinating and the story and characters were developed very well around the plot. The ending had my heart aching and I need the sequel YESTERDAY to find out exactly who made it out of the facility and where they go from here!!
First of all, thank you so much for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book! It means so much to me!
Now, onto the good stuff. I could not put this book down! I’m such a character driven reader that it’s becoming a problem, like I will DNF a book just because the MC bothers me, but this book? People you’re supposed to hate are well developed. You aren’t just told to hate them you see why you need to hate them. Random side characters that are there for five pages? I miss them as soon as they’re gone.
Every single character in this book felt like a fully formed character and I loved it!!! Plus, the plot? Fascinating. Riveting. So well executed that I am absolutely obsessed with it at every turn. There are little foreshadowing bits (okay, is it foreshadowing if it’s explicitly stated?) that make it impossible to out this book down.
I don’t think I can sing its praises enough, but I cannot wait for it to be released for the whole world to read! 10/10, would recommend. No notes.
First, thank you to Ella Dupuie for the eArc of Fractures of the Fallen. This is a new YA fantasy that takes place in modern times. It includes fallen gods, secret societies, betrayals, assassins, found family.
The idea of the book I thought was so unique. Seven gods rebelled against the other gods to try to seize power, unsuccessful, they were punished. Each god was fractured into 7 pieces and sent to Earth. Each fractures was born and grew up, if any of the fractures got close to each other or met somehow, the powers of the orated to manifest. Enter the Preservation Society, whose job is to monitor the fractures and keep tabs on them.
Valen has been with the Society forever; she only knows the ways of the Society and what they have taught her about Fractures. They are dangerous and cannot be trusted. I really loved Valen’s character. She didn’t mince words, was loyal to her friends/team, but also really loved her alone time.
This was such a fantastic debut novel! I cannot wait to see what Ella comes up with next…oh and good call on the epilogue!
Thank you for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book. The modern day setting with tech but wrapped up in such a fantasy 'fallen gods' history worked better than I expected! It seemed really new idea but so well written and polished! There are so many good things to mention! Fast paced With a great storyline, lots of twists but didn't get confusing. Foreshadowing didn't seem overworked to get all the pieces to fit together. Characters written well enough to get a good feel for them so they felt like they could be real. Finally a main lead that was not full of doubt and all wishy washy, Valen knew what to do to take charge and lead. I thought there was a little too much hate thrown at Cadel but then I was like, never mind, it's deserved. I enjoyed this so much!!
When I first started reading this book, I genuinely questioned why it was different. The story immediately started to remind me of Fourth Wing with the sparring, then shifted to The Naturals with the characters. As the story progressed, it was so much more than I even imagined. I never wanted to stop reading it, when I did, I would immediately be thinking about the next time I could read the book. It did not take me long to read; it genuinely took me a few days - it was THAT good. I loved seeing the parallel between the author and the characters as well, I was able to pick up on a few things throughout the book before they happened so there was a lot of "I KNEW IT" moments that just felt validating as well. I cannot wait to read the next book; all love to this author. She knows what she is doing.
I received an advance reader copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fascinating story. I've never read anything quite like it. The lore is on point, and the world-building is insanely good. It feels fresh and original, which is one of the biggest compliments I can give a writer.
There isn't much romance from what I've seen so far, though I have a soft spot for Win and Valen. I always enjoyed the scenes they shared and found myself looking forward to seeing them on the page together.
The concept reminded me a little of *Orphan Black*, but with a fresh twist that keeps you guessing.
I hate Cadel. It is bravo to the writer for making a detestable character.
I received an ARC copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! This book was amazing. The thrill and suspense catch you from the beginning and don't ease up. The characters were well written and I got attached to Win from the first page, because he was too sweet and wholesome not to love. Valen is a badass and I can't wait see where book 2 takes her and her Fractures.
The story ends on a bombshell cliffhanger, RUDE! The last few chapters had me feeling every emotion possible.
Buckle up, because this is fun roller-coaster!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Thank you to the author for the eARC copy of this book! I’ll be adding a physical copy to my library upon its official release!
Fractures of the Fallen is a captivating non romance fantasy debut novel from Ella Dupuie that is full of action, secret societies, ancient gods in a modern world, badass female main characters, genuine friendships, and an intriguing and unique plot that had me hooked from the first pages! 📃
I am already anxiously anticipating the continuation (pretty please?!) of this story- the cliffhanger was heart wrenching and SAVAGE Ella! Well done 👏🏼
ARC review: I tried so hard to like this. The fresh idea was there but the execution needs a lot of work. The FMCs’ nonstop repetitive inner dialogue was tiresome and the conversations between characters were cheesy and unrealistic. People don’t talk like that in real life. It made it even more difficult to connect with the characters. The writing overall was stilted and dry with poor sentence structure. One sentence that comes to mind is, “Cassandra got tentatively into the passenger seat.” This feels like it was written by a middle schooler.
Huge thank you to the author @elladupuie for allowing me to read this before release date of August 25th
I loved this book! The plot was interesting and intriguing, action packed! I didn't want to stop reading. I love the found family and friendship in this book it was refre5shing to read about. The deaf representation was an added element that I enjoyed. That ending had me willing for a continuation!
If you love Greek Gods, action packed plots that will make you feel so many feelings go preorder
I was able to read this book as an arc read!! Where do I even start? Wow! This book had quite a few twists and a few jaw dropping moments! It’s very fast paced, but explained well so you keep up with what is going on. The story is SO GOOD! I had no idea this is the author’s debut book. It is so well written. I CANNOT wait for book two!!!!!! This is a book I will be recommending to everyone!! Stop reading reviews and just start reading! You won’t regret it!!
WOW. What a debut!! This was such a unique and interesting concept and the story started with action and the action truly never stopped. It kept me engaged the whole time, and often on the edge of my seat. There were a lot of characters but the author did such an amazing job giving each a unique voice! Without giving away too much, the cliffhanger at the end has me dying! I can’t wait to read more from DuPuie
Loved this! Kinda gave “orphan black” vibes but waaaaaay more interesting. Loved the plot. Loved the characters and their personalities. Interesting storyline. A villain, but with depth. I like that it’s fantasy without leaning heavily on a romance plot line. Although, I feel SOMETHING happening in the future. Overall, great read. Probably a top ten book of the year for me 🖤
Im going be very honest I loved this book it was absolutely amazing I can't say much with out spoiling it but I am very happy to be an ARC reader it is a truly good book very well written Ella Dupuie you did an amazing job and I'm very honored to have read it can't wait for it to I come out officially thus will be a book I purchase a physical copy. ❤️ 10/10 will be recommending to friends.
This book had me shocked! Twists and turns I didn’t see coming - and they weren’t even saved for the end of the book! Absolutely recommend and can’t wait to get a physical copy when it releases. Ella Dupuie, you are an amazing author!
I really enjoyed this book a lot. It had an interesting storyline and even surprised me with a twist which I didn't see coming. Well written and professional done. Recommended!
I’d like to start by thanking Ella Dupuie and Rowan Pose Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Boy, was this book a ride. The characters were so layered and multifaceted that their vulnerabilities and little quirks felt so human. Even the truly horrendous characters were written with enough depth that I found myself empathizing with them at times. The friendships and banter were one of my favorite parts because it really did make you feel like you were with friends-flipping each other off and being sarcastic. I especially loved the friendship between Valen and Win, and I also felt like I really got to know all of the Fractures as well.
The plot was absolutely phenomenal. It was intriguing from the very beginning, and my interest was held all the way to the final page — I only stopped reading to sleep. I loved the concept of the Seven Gods and the forty-nine Fractures, along with all of their unique abilities coming together. And the action scenes? Incredible. I genuinely can’t say enough good things about this book.