A Fated Reckoning

by Jamye Smith

In this slow-burn second chance romantic fantasy a vampire and fae warrior must survive deadly trials to break a soul-shattering curse before time runs out.

I loved him once. Now I cling to the hate, currently measured in the inches of steel I've driven into his chest.

Two centuries ago, Mikael didn't just break my heart--he shattered us. The vampire I trusted above all others betrayed me and ignited a war that left our people in ruins. To end the slaughter, I bargained with the Fates and drained the land of magic, and broke myself in ways time can't mend. What survived was a fae warrior turned city ruler, burying her past beneath liquor, duty, and the bond I severed.

When Mikael returns, alive when he shouldn't be, I do what any rational woman would: stab him in the heart.

But death isn't on the table for him. He's come back with a confession, and a curse--the amulet he stole came with a price. The one you love most will die.

My soul has fractured into four pieces. To break the curse before it kills me, we must recover each fragment. Riddles sear themselves into our skin, igniting with every touch--skin to skin, bond to bond--dragging us into the closeness I swore never to endure again.

As the curse frays, so does the magic suppressing our bond, unraveling every feeling I've spent two centuries trying to destroy. Each fragment recovered cracks the walls I've built wider, revealing truths I buried beneath denial and rage.

When the final riddle is solved, I'll face the cruelest truth of all: breaking the curse may cost me the person I love most.

I'm terrified it's still him.

Genres: Fantasy, Fae, Romantasy, Second Chance, Fantasy Romance, Vampires, Romance

ebook

Reviews

[ℛℰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
“You are what I desire in the daylight, and what fills my dreams at night.”

༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚

❤️‍🔥Forbidden romance
⚔️Second Chance romance
❤️‍🔥Vampire x fae
⚔️Trials & curses
❤️‍🔥Fated mates
⚔️The MMC is down bad on his knees for her
❤️‍🔥 she stabs him

༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚

I finished this book in less than 24 hours. This was full of romance and trials and action. I loved the main characters and their chemistry. I loved that they would do anything for each others. I must admit it was a little boring and in the middle, I felt meh and like they were going in circles around each other but anyway that didn’t last long. I also loved that second chance romance usage in the story . It is rarely used in romantasy in fact I cannot recall if I have read a second chance romance in a romantasy before.
The end was PERFECT but I wanted more and more. I didn’t want to leave the story or the main characters . Also the MMC’s name is Mikael and she calls him Kai and I love that name so it is a bonus for me. Did I mention that he has light blond hair. Do not get me started on the gorgeous fanarts. You have to see them!!


ఌ︎𝓟𝓻𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭ꨄ

The e-arc is finally in my hands!!! Last Jan author Jamye sent the first four chapters and let me tell you I couldn’t put them down till I finished them I literally had an exam the next day and I had to wake up early but I couldn’t just leave the book and I waaaas in deep need for the rest of the chapters !! And now it is in my hands!!!!

[Berry ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Jamye Smith, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3 / 5 ⭐️

A Fated Reckoning was so full of anticipation, strength, and tension!!
I will admit, while I did love the romance between Mikael and Bryn, but I preferred their characters individually as opposed to being together.

Their second chance relationship dynamic was just so full of heartbreak and emotion, and I found myself wishing they would just both be happy even without each other. Granted, the moments between them were so heartfelt and so full of yearning, but perhaps I just did not feel the pull between them as much as I should have.

Bryn's journey was just so cathartic for me. The way she, and Mikael both confronted their pains and their griefs was just done so beautifully. I would reread this book for their journey alone. It was quite a bittersweet ending as well, because I found myself wanting more.

Overall this was such an enjoyable read, but the romance was just not very convincing for me. Everything else was so good!

♡ pre-read ♡

jay told me i must read this so i requested it last night <3 tysm bb

[Margaret Minoff · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐️ | 2 🌶️

Thank you Jamye Smith for the opportunity to be a part of the ARC team. I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

First and foremost, I rarely give below a 3-star review, and am an avid ARC reader – which made me extremely excited for this ARC opportunity. The premise of a fae falling in love with a vampire, only to have her heart broken by a crushing betrayal immediately caught my attention and was the main reason I signed up for the ARC. I appreciated the way the history between Bryn and Mikael was revealed gradually, and I enjoyed learning more about their past as the story unfolded.

The story is told from Bryn’s POV. I usually enjoy single-POV standalones, but in the case of A Fated Reckoning, I struggled to connect with Bryn as a character. Her inner conflict between loving and hating Mikael was intense, and the quick shifts between those powerful emotions made it difficult for me to stay grounded in her perspective – I was getting some serious whiplash. There were also hints that Bryn might be struggling with alcoholism, which is a heavy topic and one I would have been interested in being explored more in depth alongside the main storyline.

The pacing of the story felt fast for me. A lot happens throughout the storyline, as Bryn and Mikael face terrorizing trails to regain parts of Bryn’s soul. Sometimes, I found myself wishing there had been more detail exploring the locations of each trial and the challenges and less focus on the sexual tension between our FMC and MMC. Slowing down in those moments might have added more depth to the world building and the character’s journey.

Mikael was another area where the delivery fell short of my expectations. I love a morally grey MMC with a wicked tongue and dark humor, but at times his laid-back attitude made me want to say, “seriously dude?” and shake my head.

Overall, A Fated Reckoning had interesting ideas and a premise that really drew me in. While the story didn’t fully work out for me personally, I can see readers who enjoy a face-paced romantasy enjoying this story.

As an ARC reader, it’s never easy for me to leave a less-than-stellar review. I am grateful for the chance to read and review this book early and appreciate the opportunity to support the author.

[Laura Kazlauskaite · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It's easier to hate the ghost of a person, the one that wronged me, than the one trying to make up for what they did.”

This was my first arc ever that I’ve been given by an NetGalley. I’ve been hearing about this book in threads and especially about MMC so I had to try to get this arc.

Let’s start at the beginning - our FMC ,Bryn, is a fae that had bonded herself to forbidden love match - vampire. They shared an epic romance until everything fell apart. Her mate betrayed her, used her knowledge, and ultimately started a war against Fae.

When we meet Bryn, she is completely broken. Reckless, self-destructive, and drowning in alcohol, she rules over the small fae city of Varithen. Even after two centuries, her hatred toward her former mate is still raw. She lives in a constant state of rage, trying to numb herself night after night—with alcohol, with distractions, with anything that helps her forget.

And then… Mikael comes back.

What follows is an intense emotional journey filled with trials, forcing both of them to confront what most of us try to bury—pain, betrayal, guilt, and the possibility of forgiveness.

The dynamic between Bryn and Mikael is heavy, complicated, and deeply emotional. You can feel the weight of their past in every interaction, which makes their story both frustrating and addictive at the same time.

If you enjoy second-chance romance with a darker edge, emotional tension, and characters who are far from perfect, this book delivers exactly that.

A strong and gripping read—and definitely a memorable first ARC experience.

[Kalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an e-arc from the author.
This was such a bingeable read. I'm not usually one for second chance romances but this is by far my favorite. Betrayal, longing, THE TENSION, vampires, fae. and trials - this book had all my favorite buzzwords and delivered. I loved the journey the FMC and MMC went on and the slow burn that ensued. I appreciated that even though they had history their romance was still perfectly paced. We experienced so many aspects of their world and different creatures. The ending definitely shook me and had me throwing my kindle, but in the best way. t
This is also a standalone so it wraps up nicely for those that aren't fans of cliffhangers.

[Tonje Lien · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was your average enemies to lovers trope. It has trials and rivaling kingdoms and the fmc and mmc caught up in that somehow.

This was fatøst paced, wich can be good, but in this instanse I found it to bee too fast. The very quick I hate him and cannot stand him to kissing was very fast, even though they were mates it felt whiplashy to me. I would love for the world and the places to be more explored, her drinking and mental health could also benefit from mentioning more about. It could have been much deeper than it was.

All in all I enjoyed the story but some things were a bit lacking for me that reads a lot of these books daily.

Thank you netgalley and the author for an arc of this book! I review it voluntairy!

[Sasha | omgitssmk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking a look at my surroundings, I calmly scan over the division of the lands below. Each of these areas hold many different creatures ranging from Pixies, Dragons, Fae, and even Humans (like myself), but there is one special type my eyes are looking for among the vast lands of ice, fire, ash, ocean, sand, and luscious greenery….Vampires.

We've all heard of the stories that whisper of the nightmares and despair that these creatures have brought - but not many have been able to see through that pain and suffering that many species have dealt with at the hands of them. In fact, many turn a blind eye to the legend of a bond so powerful between a certain Fae and Vampire that it's hard to find any real direction to lead me to the path of where they reside.

I take a deep breath and look over to my right at my mate who is perched upon the tree next to mine. He overlooks the horizon looking for the same hope that we promised each other - to find the legend fated mates to help assist in our own trials we are looking to accomplish. He runs his fingers through his black hair and snaps his gaze to mine; instantly knowing I was looking from our bond that ties us together. Smirking, he sends a thought through my mind while the morning light catches slightly on his sharpened canines.

"We will find them."

I give a slight nod and send through the trust that I believe him.
My mate jumps to the thickened branch below and extends his hand for me to take so that we can venture forward on our journey together. As I slide my hand into his and he throws me across his back to continue our trek, I know that we are going to get through this - because if there is anything that the legend has proven to us, is that love ALWAYS finds a way.

If you are anything like me, Fated Mates and Fated Bonds are an immediate YES when it comes to my choices in reading material & I tend to find myself often day dreaming what it would be like to have my own fated or bonded mate. And after reading A Fated Reckoning by Jayme Smith, gifted by NetGalley as an ARC for review, I instantly found myself wrapped up in imagining my own adventures and trials that my mate and I would have to endure if we were placed in the same position as our MMC and FMC are within this story.

Before we get into the details, as with all of my reviews, I like to give an overview of the tropes to potential readers so that they can have a feel of what to expect if they were to pick up this FANTASTIC fantasy read…

🧛Bonded Mates
🧛Only One Bed
🧛Slow Burn x Second Chance Romance
🧛Magical Trials
🧛Fae FMC x Vampire MMC
🧛Yearning & Redemption

So far so good, right?

And when thinking about the premise of the book…..

We have Bryn, our strong and defiant FMC, after having a long day of work from her side, decides to head down to the local "watering hole" where she soothes not only the stresses of the day but her longing ache that has been within her for the past 200 years with glasses of various mixtures as she does on her daily routine schedule. One night during her alcohol dependent routine, a familiar voice reaches out to her which causes her to stop in her tracks. Surely this has to be a dream because she hasn't heard that voice in the last 200 years. She immediately whips her head around to find none other than her "ex-bonded" mate, Mikael, on a mission to find her and just so happens to lock eyes with her across the room. All of her bottled up anger starts to surface from the Battle that had caused their end 200 years ago, and just as she is goes to give him a piece of her mind, he provides her with information that abruptly leaves her in shock & confusion - a curse has been placed upon her and she is set to die if she does not find the four pieces of her soul in time.

Frustrated with the sudden arrival and news of her demise, Bryn starts to realize those headaches and blackouts that have been recently happening have been going on for a reason and that this might just be connected to the fate of her life Mikael is referring to. And the only way to stop it? She will need to reconnect with Mikael on a journey to collect those lost pieces of her soul before it is too late.

While the main goal is to save Bryn, Mikael is also looking to rekindle that romance and love that they once had as bonded mates and he will stop at nothing to make Bryn realize that both him and her are "end game". The only issue is that Bryn cannot forgive him for what he had done those 200 years ago and she's not sure if she will even be able to give him her heart based on the little time left they have to find the parts of her missing soul. In fact, Bryn is still left with the pondering question of why Mikael had even betrayed her to cause their relationship to end in the first place.

A little bit of fantasy, a little bit of romance, and a little bit of mystery and trials/games?
Let's all join together and say…. "COUNT. ME. IN."

There is so much that A Fated Reckoning by Jayme Smith has to offer when this book releases on JUNE 24th that would satisfy any Romantasy lover's craving for both adventurous plot and sweet, slow burn romance. I highly recommend that you take a chance in reading this upcoming release as it's surely going to keep your on your toes with the high paced storyline and gentle romance mixed within.

When thinking in terms of my opinion towards the book, something that I'd like to note is that I'm the first person to say that I'm normally not a "second chance romance" fan. I'm not sure what it is about that trope, but I tend to find myself cringing at the rekindling of a romance and how easy it usually is for the MMC and FMC to join back together when they had such emotional damage between each other in the past. With A Fated Reckoning, however, I was quite surprised to find how smooth the second chance romance element came into play - in fact, I felt like it blended so well that I didn't mind the anticipated gestures or comments from either MCs related to the second chance romance trope. In fact, I actually found myself enjoying it as Mikael is probably one of the greenest flags out there come "second chance romance" men. The man will say exactly how he feels, provides the PERFECTED amount of devotion and the YEARNING? Oh the yearning and patience this man has for her is TOP. TIER. I saw someone else comment in a review stating "Please, Sir. Can I Have Some More?" And I couldn't agree more because the things that Mikael says is something that we ALL wish our partners (or non-existent partners) would say to us. IYKYK and if you don't, by all means, pick up this book when it releases JUNE 24, 2026, so that you can join the Mikael Fan Club too.

Another thing to note is how well I felt the pacing of this story was as we delve into the trials and romance between the MCs. I tend to find with most standalone fantasy books that the pacing can feel somewhat loose when trying to gather world building, thoughts, romance, adventure, and full blown plot within each page of the story. So much so that it feels like the plot really only begins towards the end of a story when we have 20 pages left to read; thus, the path from start to finish usually results in having to have at least a duet/duology created. This author choose a really great way to feel as though you weren't missing anything as you went on the journey with the MCs. Of course there were areas that I would have liked to understand more and have further world building in place, but the details that were provided were enough, in my opinion, to satisfy understanding what was happening and the reason why as you venture through the areas the MCs visited on their journey to finding Bryn's lost pieces of soul. So I would say to keep that in mind as you are reading through - there are areas and different "species/worlds" that I would have like to have delved a little more into to understand the division between each area but with a standalone book, there is only so much that an author can do without needing to increase the page limit to well past the normal standalone amount. That isn't to say that I wouldn't have minded if the book were to expand further past the 400 pages so that we, as readers, would have been able to have a more immerse experience as we read through the trails and games adventure together.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with this ARC given by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op and, just like with others, was kind of disappointed to find my journey with Bryn and Mikael coming to an end. I really enjoyed the dynamic tension between both characters and how they feed off of each other really well that helped me in realizing just how healing their emotional journey was for not only their romance but within themselves as well. Definitely pick up this read if you are looking for a standalone Romantasy to add to your current TBR as it's definitely a really great read to include without the commitment of 3424832043 books which usually is the case when it comes to fast-paced fantasy choices such as this.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”

A Fated Reckoning by Jamye Smith
4.5☆

This book’s main course was romantic emotional damage with a side of trials, heartbreak, and just enough yearning to keep me slightly unwell in the best way.

The structure of the story keeps things moving phenomenally. Curses, trials, unraveling truths, each piece slotting in without making your brain work too hard. It’s fast-paced but never overwhelming, giving you little breadcrumbs of world-building as you go.

Bryn, a fae FMC who kicks things off with the energy of “let’s burn it all down and I’ll light the match.” She starts off as a beautifully chaotic storm of avoidance, pain, and denial… but her redemption was absolutely earned. It’s the kind where she claws her way through trauma, faces the ugliest parts of herself, and comes out stronger than ever. Fighter isn’t just a name for her, it’s stitched into her very soul.

“𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜, 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙟𝙖𝙬, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙄 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙚𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙠𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙮 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚.”

And then there’s Mikael. Let me just take a moment to compose myself.

This man is the greenest flying flag to ever exist in vampire history. He knows what he wants, he says it with his whole chest, and he has been down catastrophically for Bryn for TWO. HUNDRED. YEARS. No toxic nonsense, no morally grey games. Just devotion, yearning, and lines that will have you pausing mid-sentence like, “please, sir. Can I have some more?”

“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪—𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚—𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙢𝙚. 𝙄’𝙙 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚, 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚.”

Their romance is second chance, but make it emotionally layered. There’s MESSY history here, complicated and rooted. No cheap drama, no flimsy breakup. Literal centuries of love, loss, and unresolved feelings simmering under the surface. The tension is thick with these two, and the slow burn payoff is epically tender.

“𝙄’𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙗 𝙢𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙛 𝙞𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣.”

By the time we hit the end, everything wraps up cleanly, which is satisfying for a standalone. Not gonna lie, I wish more Romantasy books WERE standalones. The quick payoff is more addicting in my opinion, knowing there’s a definite end to the story in a single book rather than multiple. But even so, I just wanted a little more…a teeny, tiny epilogue snack…a final moment with these characters, after everything they survived.

“𝙔𝙤𝙪. 𝙄 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙞𝙩 𝙧𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙢𝙚. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚.”

It’s fast-moving romantasy packed with creative trials, emotional healing, and a love story powered by devotion that refuses to quit. You’ll be intrigued, a little wrecked, occasionally furious, and fully invested.

*Thank you to Jamye Smith for this arc opportunity.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Jamye for the opportunity to be part of your arc team.

💫Second chance love
💫Magical trials
💫Vampires, Fae, Dragons, Sirens, Fates, Monsters
💫Bonded mates
💫Betrayal
💫Sacrifice

I loved the 2nd chance love element much more than I thought I would.
Mikael fought blood, sweat and tears to win Bryn back. This man has a way with words 🥵🔥 that will have you melting.

Even though the curse didnt make so much sense to me. Especially after 200 hundred years... I loved the trials and challenges they had to face to restore Bryn's soul.

Bryn is strong and fierce 💪 and has the will power of a beast for being able to stay angry for so long..

I loved the element of facing your issues to be a better person, forgiveness, 2nd chances and sacrifice.

The ending was surprising. I thought she would come back as a vampire fae hybrid... But i still really enjoyed the book. It was a solid 4 stars 🌟 for me. 😀

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for this early copy of A Fated Reckoning. I’m giving this 4.5⭐️ and rounding to 5⭐️.

I initially saw the art and read the first 4 chapters and was hooked. I knew I needed to read this immediately.

If you’ve read any of my reviews, you know I’m a sucker for a second chance romance. It gets me every time and I’ll never tire of it. That’s mainly what drew me to this and it delivered. I felt the chest pains while I was reading each interaction between Brynn and Mikael. I thought the plot and action was perfectly balanced with the tension and yearning of the romantic part of the book. I enjoyed reading each trial they went though to break the curse. I also enjoyed reading about Brynn’s alcohol dependency and how she overcame it. I like that it was addressed throughout and wasn’t just mentioned early and then glossed over. I know this is a standalone and I loved the happy ending, but I love Brynn and Mikael and wish I didn’t have to say goodbye to them!

[vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 glowing stars!

i received a free arc of this book (thank you, jamye! you are the sweetest). this review is completely honest.

a fated recknoning is a fast-paced, action-packed, and sizzling hot second chance romance between vampire and fae. i had so much fun reading it, and if not for my busy schedule, would have definitely devoured it in less than three sittings. my three topmost favorite things about this book:

(i) the yearning was top-tier and i don't say this lightly. mikael, what a man! i was down on my knees for that man. not to mention their chemistry was also top-tier, but the yearning will always come first to me.

(ii) the world building! i love how we encountered different kinds of beings from mythology, from dragons to sirens to mermaids. and different kinds of terrains and weather too! the variety was immensely fun to read.

(iii) the pacing. i always end up having trouble with the pacing at some point, but this book just kept moving onwards and upwards. there are absolutely no fillers, and i truly appreciate that. each chapter was just as enjoyable and just as thrilling!

if you want to potentially meet your next book boyfriend and are a fan of riddles that rhyme, honestly what are you even doing. go pick up this book!

[Becc_Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

•Book Review•

“𝓘’𝓭 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓹 𝓪𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓽 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓮𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓽𝔂, 𝓭𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓷𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓲𝓼𝓱𝓮𝓭, 𝓲𝓯 𝓲𝓽 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓶𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓾𝓹 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭”.

“𝓨𝓸𝓾. 𝓘 𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓸𝓼𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓔𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓲𝓯 𝓲𝓽 𝓻𝓾𝓲𝓷𝓼 𝓶𝓮. 𝓔𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓲𝓯 𝓲𝓽’𝓼 𝓶𝔂 𝓭𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱 𝓰𝓲𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮”.

I was given the chance to read this arc by @netgalley and I’m so grateful!

It was a brilliant read! I loved it!

It was soo refreshing to actually start off with them already being mated and bonded and see the bond needing to be repaired.

It was a real journey of emotional strength, trust and love. With some bloodshed of course! You can’t have a vampire without some drama!

The trials weren’t your usual killing ones but they still brought an intensity to them! Some dragons too!

The ending nearly had me! I cried! 😭
I don’t know if a book 2 is something being considered or not but I’d love to read more of these characters! 🩷

This book is being released June 24th and I highly recommend it 😍😍

[Alice K · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ ARC Review ✨

✨ Lovers to enemies to lovers
✨ Stabby FMC
✨ Magic and Trials

This book was very easy to read and fast-paced. I feel like the ending could have been drawn out a bit longer. I'm not a huge fan of miscommunication to create tension, and this was the bulk of the text when the plot could have been more focused on. The plot is really interesting, but I found it hard to relate to the characters and their decisions.

I found it a bit unbelievable that in 200 years it never occurred to Bryn that magic may have played a role in Mikael's betrayal of her. You're a centuries-old fae, and this doesn't occur to you? I couldn't understand it.

✨Thank you to the author and her team for my ARC copy! ✨

[Shannon Mungo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley for the gifted arc

3.75 🌟
2 🌶

This is a very fast paced standalone romantasy.
This is not and enemies to lovers, this is i want to hate you to love for the fmc and I do and have always loved you for the mmc

The fmc is cursed and she has to go on these trails with the mmc. They haven't talked in 200 years since he betrayed her. She is fae and he is a vampire and their love is forbidden.

We see the fmc struggle with her feelings, she doesn't want to hate him, but she is still hurt and angry about his betrayal. (He revealed a secret that cost alot of people their life).

If your in the mood for a light world building, low brain power second chance romance this is for you.

[jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

╔════════════════════════╗
💕✨ 𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 ✨💕
╚════════════════════════╝

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing Co-op, and Jamye Smith for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I have just come to the realization that second chance trope is not the trope for me personally. I didn't feel the chemistry between Mikael and Bryn. I love a good slow burn, but i felt like the actual pacing of the book was a bit too fast for my liking. As we got further I saw their chemistry burn and grow together. I love fae and vampires so this was such a fun and delicious read. As someone who has dealt with depression and the horrid thoughts of it. i thought that the book handled it really well and i was pleasantly surprised by the outcome of it.

[Allyza Spivey · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all thank you Jayme for this Advanced Reader Copy!

Where do I start..?

This book contains
- fated mates
- trials
- royalty
- second-chance romance
- HEA

You guys better might want to make room in your book boyfriend list because Mikeal is perfection!

Our FMC Bryn, well I got choice words because she got annoying in the beginning and through the trials but she does have redeeming character arc! We love good strong, independent, rebellious FMC and that’s what she is!

[Jo Wyld · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ARC from Netgalley

What to expect:
Bonded mates
Second chance love
Trials

Bryn (MFC) is a strong willed fiesty fae who has struggled for centuries after being betrayed by her bonded mate Mikael, who is a vampire.

But now Mikael is back to save Bryn, as she's been cursed and will die unless they complete the trials required to break the curse together!

Their romance begins to bloom again as the trials force them to open up and share unspoken truths!

Mikael is so likeable and Bryn too, in fact this is such a lovely romantasy 🥰

[Shawna Dunleavy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the arc.
Ok this book was SO FUN. Sucker for cover art and this cover one was top tier. Don’t even get me started on the story?? It was a really cool way to start enemies to lovers (previous betrayal pre beginning of book), something we see in contemporary more but brought to life in fantasy.
Fated mates, hate to love, banter, yearning and it’s a standalone (love a good fantasy standalone).

[amiesarice · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I will wait for you until the sun burns out and a new star is born, if I must.” 4.5 ⭐️ for A Fated Reckoning! Standalone fantasy books are rare and this was a fantastic read. I found myself sacrificing sleep for just one more chapter. The FMC Bryn resonated with me. She went through a lot and sacrificed a lot for her people, which left her with some demons to battle. The MMC Mikael, aka Kai, was a walking green flag. The bond between them was intense, beautiful and tragic. Also the spicy scenes were 🔥 without overtaking the plot. Overall I really enjoyed this book and the authors writing style. This 📕 is for you if you like:

Second Chance romance
Vampire x Fae forbidden love bond
Riddles x Quest to save their souls
Angst, tension, & longing
Fighting the bond and connection
Clean ending no loose ends
All the green flags

Thank you for the opportunity to ARC read and review!

[Savannah Kingry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time signing up for an ARC and I’m so glad I did. A Fated Reckoning is fast-paced and captivating, and I loved reading about Bryn’s growth throughout the trials she and Kai attempt. Kai is a great example of a male who yearns for his love AND respects her choices and autonomy. The story felt different and fresh.

[Souha S · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book for me was a straight 4.5 stars (would've been 5 if Mikael wasn't fictional😤) the yearning and the angst plus the slow burn k*lled me 😫😫 their chemistry was so so good!!! I had the pleasure of receiving the ARC a couple days back and this book is all I've been thinking of since. In terms of emotions, this book feels very human and is beautifully written. ❤️❤️

The way Mikael spoke to Bryn was oh so soft and sexy! The man literally worshipped the ground Bryn walked on & was a 100% green forest. A vert hot green forest 😏 Bryn was....a baddie through and through *chef's kiss*

My favorite scene has to be their trial when they go to the Temple of Sin and that's about all I'm gonna say to keep it spoiler free. 👀❤️

[Jessie (jessielmccarty) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I was immediately sucked in by the character art and the fact that he’s a vampire and she’s a fae 🤤 and a standalone!

The whole storyline is super unique and I loved that they were fated mates… and then it all goes bad. The tension and yearning was delicious! Our FMC is a badass and the MMC is deliciously yearn-y. My fav.

What fell a little flat for me was the trials— they started off intriguing but the second one was a total miss for me and while the third one was interesting and had a lot of potential it just kind of fell flat for some reason.

The storyline overall was good and I LOVED the little moment at the end that had me questioning if this was going to end well for anyone 😅 it reeled me in REAL quick.

It wraps up nicely and I was satisfied while also leaving room for more books in the future 👀

All in all, if you want a man who’s down bad and begging on his knees while she’s not having it, you’re going to love this! The flaws in the pacing and bumps in the storyline don’t take away enough for it to be a skip.

[SpicyAmoeba · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 40%.

Thank you for an early ARC review. I am grateful for it, but… there are areas I want to point out if only to provide constructive criticism.

I really don’t want this to come off as turn of the nose and I might fail… so bear with me. The pacing, character development, and world-building feel a bit amateur, similar to the quality of The Lady of Darkness, which I know is many people’s cup of tea, it’s just not mine.

Let’s start off with the pacing.

I felt like the plot was sped through and acted only as half-hearted excuses to put the main characters in compromised positions to “realize” their love for one another (well… more for Bryn to realize her love again because Mikael was already preaching it). I was barely 20% of the way through before Bryn was naked in front of Mikael and thinking about her attraction to him. It didn’t make much sense to me and the progression did not feel natural. My advice would be to slow it down. Not to a crazy extent where you have a slow-burn (unless you want that!), but enough to make it feel organic, like real reconciliation.

I don’t want to go too much into the use of cliches like the double infinities and tattoo riddles, but it all felt tossed in just to say “hey look, it’s here!” with very low stakes. They supposedly have a very short amount of time to solve all of this and they use most of it meandering, traveling, and taking breaks. Where is the sense of urgency? Rushing the characters a bit more OR giving them a longer timeline can help with this.

This is an extremely personal opinion, but the characters felt flat. I understand this is supposed to be a second chance romance, but I didn’t find myself rooting for either of them. As I mentioned before, Mikael starts out lovesick, Bryn is an indecisive mess, and the tension is already at its breaking point from the first moment they come face-to-face rather than gradually building. Side characters? Paper thin in their existence. Their purpose is to be carried by the wind and show up when it’s convenient for the plot. I admit, this one is a hard one to provide advice for since everyone’s expectation for characters is different and it’s understandable that you’d want to keep them true to a certain presentation you have in mind. I think creating a stronger sense of mistrust between Mikael and Bryn in the beginning would help tremendously and bringing out more personality in side characters in their mannerisms and dialogue goes a long way.

In terms of world-building, there is some. Kind of. And the very small tidbit of information you get is thrown at you repetitively to the point where I felt like my long-term memory was questioned. Yes, I get there was a war. Yes, I get Bryn made some sort of sacrifice. No need to repeat it every chapter early on. It’s ok to keep multiple mentions of past events, just space them out more.

Overall, I think this book suffers from very common mistakes made in early writing that refine with time. I commend the author for taking the steps to self-publish and I in no way want to deter them from continuing to write. Keep on keeping on and just know that this is the opinion of one person, and I only offer suggestions for improvement.

[Kenz✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

two hundred years after Bryn's vampire mate Mikael betrays her, he spontaneously arrives in her life–and with gruesome news. Bryn has been cursed and as a pair, must complete a series of trials in order for her to live. as someone who loves trials, forbidden romance, betrayals, and a groveling MMC, this book should have been right up my alley, but unfortunately the execution fell short of my expectations.

A Fated Reckoning reads extremely quick and easy as the overall plot and world building presented is simple. the trials were extremely fast paced and I wish I felt more connected to them. the riddles leading to the trials were interesting, but normally I like when you can try to solve the riddles with the characters based on information about the world or their past. since I didn't have any background into the world or these characters, I felt indifferent about them. each task seemed extremely easy and I wish more time had been dedicated to this in the plot than the second chance relationship. the ending felt abrupt as well, I wish we had more happily ever after scenes at the end.

I found it very hard to connect with Bryn as she seemed overly stubborn, petulant, and abrasive. it's clear she struggles with substance abuse to deal with her trauma, and I would have loved for this to have been explored more. since it was touched upon briefly and never mentioned again once they are on the trials, I feel like this would have given her more depth and made me better understand her. it was odd for this behavior to suddenly go away after what seemed to be a recurring behavior. I understand she feels deeply betrayed by her mate, but I found it extremely unrealistic for her to have not thought that perhaps Mikael was coerced and/or someone who is her MATE would have done something like that on their own volition. this was a large plot hole in my opinion. I'm also confused as to why the curse was 200 years later and only has two weeks to solve, the timing didn't add up in my opinion. on the other hand, I absolutely loved Mikael. he was groveling like no other, doing anything possible to get Bryn back. it was clear how devoted he was to her despite how little she entertained it at first. I felt romantic thing he said to my core in a way that made me yearn for him. I honestly don't think Bryn deserves him.

overall, this was a fun and easy read. you will enjoy this book too if you love:
✨ second chance romances with bonded mates
✨ curses that can be lifted by completing trials
✨ fast paced plots
✨ groveling MMCs
✨ stubborn FMCs

thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Marie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review:

First, thank you so much to the author Jamye Smith and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for gifting me this eARC!!

I loved A Fated Reckoning!!

Bryn is a headstrong former fae warrior, who was betrayed 200 years ago by her vampire mate, Mikael, the vampire king's general. The betrayal led to a blood bath between her people and his. Ever since, she has done all she can to forget him, and hates him for his betrayal and the hurt she went through. She now rules over a city and avoids trouble to not draw the Fae king's attention. She also drinks a lot, to deal with her anger against Mikael.
Mikael, who shows up in her city, claiming she has been cursed, that her soul has been split in 4, and that they only have a fortnight to undo said curse otherwise she will die. (Bryn is not happy. At all. She doesn't want to see Mikael nor die.) To do so, they must retrieve the pieces of her soul. That means solving some riddles, and succeeding in trials. The riddles (are supposed to) give the location and nature of the trials. However, these trials are linked to her soul, hence to her mating bond (that she destroyed after the betrayal) and gaining her soul back seems to heal her mating bond as well.

This book is a story of love and resilience, and I found it beautiful. Both characters go through a lot of characters growth, self awareness, and acceptance of their past, their mistakes and their errors.
I especially loved how their beliefs and lies untangle and how the truth unfurls.
I also loved both characters. The headstrong, sassy Bryn, whe doe's hold her tongue back, and the morally-grey-walking-green-flag (can I say that? Can he be both?) and loving Mikael.
There is also word building, magic systems, secrets, dragons (I love dragons), etc., and I loved it, but my favourite part is the dynamic between both main characters!!

If you are looking for a beautiful romantasy, with trials, tension, yearning, enemies to lovers, and a message of love and resilience, this book is for you!!

Two out-of-context quotes I liked (both are from Bryn - I love her):
"And he called me insufferable."
"Plus, I’ve always liked being the thorn in his side."

[Tricia Pelc · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Fated Reckoning is a standalone fantasy book with fae, vampires, fates and magic. I enjoyed this standalone book so much. The FMC and MMC's relationship spans centuries with heartbreak in between, which places him as her enemy, making it an enemies-to-lovers book second chance book. I loved a trials book and the trials these two go through were quite interesting and it tests their companionship/relationship throughout. The FMC has to overcome all the hate, heartache and the poor coping she's harbored for the past two centuries since the betrayal, so you see how she struggles throughout the book, fighting against herself and the feelings that are arising. The MMC is clearly devoted and always has been, despite the distance between the two of them. You find out throughout the book about his betrayal and how he will do anything to win her back, despite the danger to himself. The slow burn tension and the banter between the two of them is good.

Bryn is fierce, strong, resilient, despite her poor coping at times. She's built a life for herself from the ashes of the trauma that tore she and Mikael apart centuries ago. She has the respect of her town and her best friend. She's left to her own devices, sometimes much to her Peylin's dismay. When Mikael rips back into her life out of nowhere, she's shocked to say the least, angry, hurt, and of course, she's drunk, so makes rash decisions, because he won't leave. The tension and the stakes are high from the beginning. Mikael is swoon worthy, gorgeous and blood thirsty to protect Bryn, so when he gets on his knees and promises to do anything to save her, he means it.

The writing and pace of the story is great, especially since it's a standalone and it's wrapped up wonderfully. You're not left wondering about holes or things that are missed. She gives you a beautiful story in a single book. If Jamye ever goes back into this world for other characters, however, I will be the first to sign up. I loved this book and her writing. I'm a fan.

[Samantha Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

"you are mine and I intend to keep you" ~ Mikael, the king of yearning!

A standalone second- chance romantic fantasy.
Betrayal, Curses, Reconciliation, bad ass FMC, Deadly trials all come together to bring a standout piece of writing.
I'd love to see more of Bryn & Mikael, the banter, sexual tension and teasing is off the charts.
The world building was easy to follow, yet still full and absolute.
The backstory was intriguing and gradually developed throughout with twists and turns.

Blurb:
I loved him once. Now I cling to the hate, currently measured in the inches of steel I’ve driven into his chest.

Two centuries ago, Mikael didn’t just break my heart—he shattered us. The vampire I trusted above all others betrayed me and ignited a war that left our people in ruins. To end the slaughter, I bargained with the Fates and drained the land of magic, and broke myself in ways time can’t mend. What survived was a fae warrior turned city ruler, burying her past beneath liquor, duty, and the bond I severed.

When Mikael returns, alive when he shouldn’t be, I do what any rational woman would: stab him in the heart.

But death isn’t on the table for him. He’s come back with a confession, and a curse—the amulet he stole came with a price. The one you love most will die.

My soul has fractured into four pieces. To break the curse before it kills me, we must recover each fragment. Riddles sear themselves into our skin, igniting with every touch—skin to skin, bond to bond—dragging us into the closeness I swore never to endure again.

As the curse frays, so does the magic suppressing our bond, unraveling every feeling I’ve spent two centuries trying to destroy. With each fragment recovered, the walls I’ve built crack wider, revealing truths I buried beneath denial and rage.

When the final riddle is solved, I’ll have to face the cruelest truth of all: breaking the curse may cost me the person I love most.

I’m terrified it’s still him.

[Ashley Pope · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but it could have been better. I read this in less than a day, which is crazy considering I have a three month old. I would give this book three stars because it lacked depth when necessary in certain areas. After reading the book in its entirety I understood what the author was going for, but it wasn’t successful. For example, the amulet. That was not explained well enough. I get she was trying to save the info for the fates reveal at the end, but it is never understood why the king was looking for the amulet. Why the king thought he needed it. Yes, the fate explains that she lead the king to want it, but what power does the amulet possess? Was it solely for the purpose of the curse and to bestow that curse on Mikael? It is also never explained what the “fae weakness” is. That is literally all it is called in the book, “fae weakness.” The author could have come up with one weakness. Just saying “fae weakness” is lazy. All that aside, I liked the trials and that the book was fast-paced.

I do feel like this book could have benefitted from a dual POV or alternate timeline chapters to see their relationship blossom in the past. That would have added to the depth of their relationship. I would have loved some more info from Mikael’s POV, like his trial in the siren temple or his time in the vampire kingdom during his 200 years separated from Bryn. It felt superficial just glossing over Mikael’s trial in the next chapter. Bryn’s internal monologue just said “we agreed to not talk about our trials.” Very unsatisfying. I know it was to save the plot twist of Mikael being vampire king, but Mikael’s internal monologue in his POV chapter could have addressed his trial and reticence after the plot twist reveal. This is just one example of many.

I wish we got to read the epilogue 😭 I guess I’ll have to read it when the book comes out!

NetGalley gave me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review 💗💗💗

[Soraya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Jamye Smith for the opportunity to read the ARC of A Fated Reckoning.

I’m a bit torn on my rating, since Goodreads doesn’t allow half stars, I’m stuck between a 3 and a 4. A 3 feels slightly too low, but a 4 feels a bit too generous, so this lands at a solid 3.5 stars for me.

The premise really pulled me in: fated mates reunited after 200 years to break a curse placed on the FMC. It’s such a strong concept, and overall I did enjoy the story. However, I found myself missing a deeper emotional connection between the characters. The chemistry between Bryn and Mikael didn’t fully land for me, which made some of their interactions feel a bit flat.

I also struggled at times with the pacing. Some parts felt slow and drawn out, while others moved very quickly and were packed with tension. This inconsistency made the timeline feel a little uneven. On top of that, I’m still not entirely sure where the curse actually originated from or how it suddenly became such a pressing issue after 200 years.. it might be something I missed, but it left me a bit confused.

That said, I did like Mikael as a character, he’s very much a green flag, doing everything he can to protect Bryn. Her continued hatred toward him was harder for me to fully understand. After 200 years, I would have expected at least some curiosity about what really happened between them, especially if their bond was once so strong.

Despite these issues, the story itself was enjoyable, and I liked the overall idea and direction. The ending was surprising, I genuinely expected Bryn to come back as some kind of vampire-fae hybrid.. but I still appreciated how it wrapped up.

All in all, a good read with an interesting premise, even if it didn’t fully deliver on the emotional depth I was hoping for.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC.

I like a good redemption, second chance story, and this is certainly Bryn and Mikael’s reconciliation story. The majority of the book is centered on this and their relationship. What I would have liked to seen much more of would be further world development. We get just enough to help highlight their journey and the trials, but nothing too in depth. The reasoning behind the curse, the mechanism and knowledge of the curse itself, and the knowledge needed to solve the riddles all could use more support. I wondered how Mikael knew just how many (or few) days Bryn had left.
I found it hard to connect to Bryn and Mikael, and with Bryn’s hot and cold attitude towards Mikael, it made their their emotions and desires less believable. I would have like to have read more on their backstory prior to their separation. Although, I did like how their separation story was gradually unveiled in retrospect. I also found the 200 year gap a little mysterious. Why so long? Were they just living their lives and/or suffering the entire time? What prompted the motive behind the curse now all of a sudden?
The pacing was a bit inconsistent. I found myself gobbling up some parts, such as the third trial, which I really enjoyed how that was portrayed, but then found myself easily distracted away from the book due to the dragging of the pace. The trials themselves, primarily the first two, despite trying to convey high stakes, lacked the intensity needed and made the tribulations relatively easy to solve.
This is essentially a star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet retelling. I liked how the ending was portrayed, but again, it centers primary on their relationship and not their world at large.