The Fallen One: A Fated Mate, Bullies to Lovers Fae Romantasy

by Kat Adams

Being the chosen one is harder than it looks, but here I am—Talisma Jones, half-fae, half-human, full-time chaos magnet. I’ve been labeled guardian of the guardians. Sounds fancy, but all it’s gotten me is months of training with four larger-than-life guardians while we wait for another reaper to pop up and yell, “surprise!” There are still three reapers on the loose, and it’s my job to trap them, all while somehow not losing my mind—or my life—in the process. But…details.

The guardians are a walking soap opera. I have an air guardian hesitant to go into battle now that he’s no longer ageless, a fire guardian who can’t decide if he despises me or wants to set my world on fire in a very different way, a water guardian who can’t remember who he is, and an earth guardian avoiding us all. They’re sworn to protect me, but their loyalty is starting to blur into something more…complicated.

And me? Oh, I’ve just discovered I’m part succubus with a penchant for draining life forces. Fun times. It’s a darker side to me—a hunger I can’t control, a part of my heritage I didn’t ask for. Turns out, everyone I care about might be on the menu. Thank the gods I have a friend in Katy Reed, the elemental prophecy who’s been helping me stay sane. She and her quad squad help me and my guardians on the regular, and this time we need them more than ever.

Now I’ve made a deal with Hades—yes, that Hades—to track a reaper in the under realm. Not exactly the ideal vacation spot. The guardians and I are barely holding it together, but as we uncover their tragic pasts, it’s clear this isn’t just about stopping the reapers. It’s about them learning who they are without their powers, deciding who I really am, and whether I can trust them to bring me back if I embrace the darkness to save everyone else.

After all, the fate of all realms is at stake. No big deal, right?

Author’s The Fallen One is the intense second book in the four-book Guardians of the Fortress series. If you like a snarky heroine willing to fight for what she wants, four heroes who are up for the challenge, and a bullies-to-lovers romance, you’ll love this series by USA Today bestselling author Allie K. Adams, writing as Kat Adams.

424 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 22, 2025

About the author

Kat Adams is the pen name of a USA Today bestselling author of paranormal romance, romantic suspense, and sizzling short stories. She loves happy ever afters and making magic happen on the page--which aren't mutually exclusive.

Reviews

[Dawn Cruikshank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Kat definitely keeps you wanting to read until the end. Tali and the guardians prepare for the next battle and we learn a bit more about the guardians and Tali. This next battle seemed to be a bit more dangerous but we find Tali become even more powerful and she seems to be a quick learner. After the battle, Tali learns that her father is actually alive. Oh what a web we weave only to deceive. FANTASTIC job Kat! I would recommend this book.

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

not as good as book 1

I loved the first book. Talisma’s constant self doubt and defensiveness
in this book was tedious. Hopefully I didn’t miss anything too important when I skipped through those sections.
I feel like the multiple minor characters and subplots are hurting instead of helping the main story and my interest in reading until the end. Hopefully book 3 is more like the first book with its clarity and purpose than like the muddle of this book.

[Bobbi Jo Villa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riveting & action-packed

I like the storyline of this book. The names of the characters are a little hard to pronounce but you get used to them. The FMC has many enemies but also many allies.