"Everyone is bound to their fate." As heir to the Countship of the Riverlands, Suna had always known what her fate entailed. A life she does not want, a marriage she did not choose, and unquestioning loyalty to the Eternal Empire. She’s given everything she could need, yet not the one thing she wants. Freedom.
When the threat of an infamous bandit group known as the Order grows, Suna embarks on a journey to not only protect her people but also prove she can control her own destiny. Unbeknownst to her, an ancient darkness has reawakened, and a forgotten enemy has returned. With the Great Clans broken and the Queen Mother missing, there are few who can stand between them and the destruction of Eterna.
Unwittingly thrown into a secret war that has been waged for millennia, Suna must band together with old friends and unlikely allies to face this indomitable foe. But the more she learns, the more she begins to Are we free to forge our own destiny? Or do the Chains of Fate truly bind us all?
Howdy! I'm Tam Delakor, a visually impaired indie author excited to share my story with the world! While I don't have years of experience when it comes to writing, I do have an intense passion for it. For as long as I can remember, I have always loved to read, especially books in the Fantasy and Sci-Fi genres. Being able to be teleported into a new, fantastical world was something I looked forward to with each new novel I read. Long ago, I had the idea to create my own world to share with others. So, with the encouragement of my family and friends, I began writing my first book. Then, what started as a single book has now turned into two multi-book series with more on the way.
I really enjoyed this fantasy novel. It's multi POV over multiple time frames, which I found a little hard to sink into at first, but not because they were badly done - in fact, quite the opposite. By the end of each chapter, I was invested in the action of that story and didn't want to stop! As the title suggests, it was obvious the time frames and characters would link up, and that for me was what took it from 4 or 4.5 stars to 5. I unquestionably wanted to know how the characters would develop and what their ultimate fate would be. My only complaint? There's no book two yet!
This is an intricately woven story with great world-building and believable characters. If you're a fantasy reader, read it! I listened to the audiobook, and Amy Hutchins/Amelia Hugh is outstanding, giving each character added depth and warmth.
Insane to think this book is only the first of a new series, because man oh man was it a ride! The story focuses mainly on Suna, a count’s daughter who wants more out of life than to be tied down to a man & a royal title. Little does she realize how a random act of kindness to a stranger will lead her one step closer to a life in which she calls the shots. In addition to Suna’s story arc, the book (& likely the remainder of the series) utilizes a nonlinear narrative to introduce new characters to connect the past & present, thereby effectively laying out the groundwork for the future.
I very much enjoyed reading this, especially after having watched audiobook narrator Amy Hutchins (credited as Amelia Hugh) livestream this on TikTok back in April. The way in which she effortlessly switched between languages & accents to portray each character really helped bring the story & characters to life for me. And it’s also due in part to Tam Delakor’s storytelling & slow but steady world-building. He gives you enough rope to grab onto while also leaving you wanting more. I look forward to seeing what Tam will do with this series & how he manages to navigate the insane universe of Eterna while making sure us readers don’t get too lost.
I beta read this book, so please note some changes might have been made in the final book.
I very much enjoyed this book and for a debut I will give it 5 stars. I know the author did rework some of the stale bits in the beginning, which was my biggest "complaint" about this book. The characters are wellrounded and there's enough time spent getting to know them. Towards the end you also have some really emotional sections which truly hit the mark! I'd recommend picking up a copy if you like fantasy with heavy world building and character driven storytelling.
There are romance elements but this is not a romance in any way and should not be picked up if you want a romantacy. On that note I've heard some ppl think it's too complicated, which I don't agree with. There is time-line jumping, which is a bit jarring if you're not prepared, but it's really not difficult to follow along if you're used to heavier fantasy and once you get into the rhythm of the book. But if you're more of a light/fast fantasy reader it might not be your best pick.
I listened to the audiobook when it was being recorded in April and loved it! Our book club chose this book for October and it was nice to revisit the characters and relive the journey they went on. The characters were brought to life by Amelia Hugh’s narration and helped connect timelines as I listened and read along. I’m excited to see where the rest of the books go!
WOW!! This tale was a journey like no other I have been able to go on before. I absolutely LOVED the world-building, magic system, and every single character. I was luckily enough to get a copy of the ebook and the got the audio version and read/listened and it took it to a whole other level. I definitely am going to need more of this amazing story!
Ok this book is very confusing in the beginning and it took me some time to get the story but as soon as I got it, it made sense and I must say the audiobook definitely helped especially with all the strange names and words I didn't know how to pronounce. Please give the audiobook a try you won't regret it, Amy does such a good job in narrating this book.
Wow. Just wow! I'm not easily giving out five star reviews. This book, as the start to a series has me waiting in anticipation for the next one. The world building, the story line, the intricate play with the timelines and storylines that then intertwine and move along for a time have me mesmerized. And the characters. There is still so much that needs to be discovered, so many details that are hinted at, but not conclusive at the end of this book. It's truly a work that deserves respect and has tremendous potential. Now the only things to do is wait for the next part and hope that Tam will life up to the same or even a higher level! Disclosure: Tam provided me with the audiobook version of this book. I personally found that listening to it and not reading it detracted from the quality of the work, as too many of the details are lost. This is my personal experience and does not mean it will be a general experience. I got the ebook version, and allowing the time to read it is what this book deserves. Full attention.
Chains of Fate is an epic tale that contains interesting/fun characters that I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and a story line that had me guessing. In the beginning, it took me a second to realize that there were time jumps between characters, just like Season 1 of The Witcher. While the initial set up was slower than my dystopian novels (Hunger Games, Divergent, Throne of Glass, etc.), the accelerated pace at the end made it all the worthwhile keeping me on my toes wanting more!
I also am a sucker for lore/backstory. This novel has so much of it and is tastefully done to build the story. I really enjoyed the unique takes of the typical high epic fantasy races (elves/dwarfs/fairies/werewolves/vampires, etc.). Furthermore, the narrator on Audible did a fantastic job at bringing the characters to life! I loved the unique use of accents between each race.
If you love magic and strong female leads (and/or villains), it is worth the read [ or listen ;)] I am looking forward to Book 2!
What an incredible journey. The timeline split and then meeting later on had me so intrigued. The characters are loveable, with some hateable as you'll need in a new fantasy series. I loved the clan/magical system as well as the action scenes that didn't have me fumble on what was happening. I did read through this with whisper sync on the Kindle, so the narration by Amelia Hugh was a huge advantage to this storytelling. I'm excited to see where it goes from here. Great Job Tam!
I absolutely loved reading this! In the beginning, I found the changing of point of views and the time jumps a little jarring, but after I found the rhythm of the book, it all came together, and couldn't put it down. I loved all of the characters, and I'm excited to find out what happens next! I have so many questions (in a good way), so I can't wait for book 2!
This author Tam Delakor has described a story that is full of surprises and twists. This is a tale full of action packed battles. Unexpected connections, between characters that may or may not lead to relationships that can change the whole direction of the story I can't wait for the next book!
This book was an emotional roller coster, and I loved every minute of it. Hilarious characters, banter, intense moments, and a world I got immersed in. A great start to the series.
A rich world that is filled with a compelling cast of characters. They experience it all, joy, agony, love, angst. Magical beings, prophecies, the world Tam Delakor created will keep you on your toes. Fantasy lovers will enjoy learning just how the Chains of Fate bind everything together.
Tam has created a detailed world with high stakes, compelling characters, and a storyline that pulls you in. If you enjoy epic fantasy with heart and ambition, this is a story for you.