The Witcher clashes with the Shire in this sexy strangers-to-lovers romantasy about a broody monster hunter and the charming innkeeper he’s duty-bound to protect, tempted to love, and destined to kill.
He’s Fated to kill her; she’s going to fall for him anyway.
When Anya looks into the Mirror of Death at her small town’s annual Fate Festival, she expects to see what she always a long and peaceful life in the community she loves. But this year, she sees a strong, handsome, and Fated to drown her.
When she finds herself convicted of her own future crime, Anya embarks on a dangerous quest to the capital to clear her name—only to be attacked by a monster that shouldn’t exist, and rescued by the very man destined to murder her.
Idris is a knight of a secret order, now duty-bound to escort Anya to her trial. As they face terrifying monsters, assist quirky townsfolk, and share a tiny tent together, Idris and Anya find themselves drawing inexplicably closer. But when enemies from Idris’s past drag Anya into a world of cutthroat criminals and sordid politics, Idris fears he’ll be the end of her, after all.
As desire, duty, and dark conspiracies thrust Anya and Idris into a world of intrigue and danger, they’ll have no choice but to tempt their disastrous Fate.
Fate’s Dangerous Fortune is a spicy strangers-to-lovers romantic fantasy for adults—perfect for readers who enjoy bold heroines, heroes who fall first, character-driven plots, and unique world building.
This is the first book in the Mirrors of Fate series, which are interconnected fantasy romances, each about a different couple, with a guaranteed HEA. This book contains high-stakes action and cozy small-town shenanigans, with detailed descriptions of spice and gore. Recommended for fans of Helen Scheuerer, Danielle L. Jensen, D&D, and Sarah J. Maas.
Nicola Victory is the sword-wielding alter ego of an award-winning, bestselling, contemporary fiction writer. Nicola writes spicy romantasy books for adults about brave heroines and tortured heroes facing their fears for love.
When Nicola is not writing books, she enjoys reading, sipping coffee, and exploring the wilds of the Pacific Northwest. She spends her days with her very own romance hero and two cats named after celestial bodies.
Connect with Nicola on Instagram and TikTok @nicolavictorywrites or via her website.
Idris finds himself in Anya’s little town after defeating a beast in the woods. He’s led to Anya’s inn where he’s told he can find an apothecary. They meet, and unbeknownst to them, Anya’s fate has changed. Events unfold and they end up on a quest together… alone… forced proximity, one tent/bed… a satisfying slow burn for this grumpy sunshine duo.
I really enjoyed this author’s writing style. Great dialogue and descriptions, and the characters were well written and had compelling back stories.
If you’re up for a romantasy read pick this one up - it’s available on KU! Then you can join me in impatiently waiting for the sequel :)
This book was a perfect delve into a new world full of warmth and the journey of self discovery. It was so well written, had lots of cozy fantasy elements and hit that perfect spot between low stakes and high intrigue. Anya and Idris were two pieces of a perfect whole and I loved how their romance unfolded.
I’m definitely excited to read Hattie’s story! I think if you’re looking for a romantasy that won’t stress you out with but still rich in world building and lore, you’ll love this book.
I stayed up all night to finish this (plus the bonus chapter) and I absolutely loved it, start to finish. Writing this the next morning and even though I’m exhausted, it was worth it! This was a cozy romantasy set in the most believable world I’ve come across so far. The yearning, the heartaches, and the spice - I couldn’t get enough. I’m sad it’s over, and I can’t wait to read more from Nicola in the future!
This definitely wasn't a bad book, don't get me wrong. It has potential and I might even read the next book in the series. But it just didn't push the right buttons for me. Idris was sweet and I liked him but a bit too whiny and Anya was a bit too bland. Still, I liked the romance even though I wouldn't call it memorable. My biggest problem was the pacing. The story dragged and that was intensified by my lack of connection to the story. I just didn't click with the story at all, especially in the second half I was close to losing interest constantly. I just prefer stories with more angst and emotional Oomph!
Why did I give only three stars? It’s because I personally had a hard time connecting with the characters and the story. I kept losing focus. However, I don’t think it was because it was poorly written; on the contrary, it was actually very well written. Sometimes, though, some of the words used sounded too polite, while at other times, there was a lot of swearing.
I liked that Anya’s POV was written in the first person and Idris’s in the third. I have never read a book structured this way, but it worked well.
I feel the story could have been longer. I know it’s only the first book, but it seemed to need more world-building and character development. It was hard to understand whether Anya was a human or a witch; magic was mentioned a few times, but I was left wondering what it was, why it existed, and how it worked. I may have missed some of that information. For me to really remember details, things must be mentioned several times, and it felt like some information was overlooked. This may also relate to my losing focus. Although it wasn’t a long book, it took me a long time to finish.
I love to support indie authors, and I do. But I want to leave an honest opinion. I give 5 stars when a story gives me a rollercoaster of emotions—anger, laughter, tears—but this story didn’t evoke those feelings. I give 4 stars if I really loved the story but felt a few things were missing, and I give 3 stars if the story could be improved.
I think the dialogue was sometimes too soft and too polite. Idris, although described as grumpy and somewhat morally grey, could have had a more developed backstory. His grumpiness didn’t come across strongly.
While I mostly read books with darker themes—such as dark romance and dark fantasy romance—this story may not be for me, but it might appeal to someone else. If you’re into hardcore dark romance, this book is not for you. However, if you enjoy sweet love stories with slightly darker themes, then it’s a good evening read.
There is romantic tension between the characters and a beautifully written spicy scene; I just wish there were more of them.
I enjoyed the story; it is good, but personally, I didn’t feel a lot of emotions while reading it.
Nicola, I wish you all the best on your writing journey. The more we write, the better we become!
I absolutely LOVED this book so much!! The town of Waldron sounds adorable and similar to Stars Hollow. All the characters were lovable and warm with the exclusion of a few… with reason. Anya was so relatable, witty, strong and independent and a breath of fresh air compared to other FMC’s. At no point was I annoyed by her. If anything, I wish we could be friends. And Idris, my new book boyfriend and obsession, my golden retriever of an MMC BADDIE. His tenderness, his charm, his charisma, his struggle and heartache, just makes you love and appreciate him so much.
This book was so well written. At moments I’d find myself laughing at the witty banter, pulled into their romance and forgetting where I am… and some moments were just heartbreaking that left me with tears.
The romance.. Oh, the romance! I haven’t read a book with so much slow burn and build up and the spice actually being romantic. I was smitten, awfully smitten by the romance.
I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. It’s just one of those books where you wish you were a part of that world. The journey they set on, the plot of their fates, the twists.. everything tied together seamlessly.
This book was SO good. I loved the plot, the storyline was original, the characters were loveable and the slowburn was perfect! The FMC was smart, likeable, strong and not annoying. like I'm actually surprised I dont have anything bad to say about a FMC for once lol The MMC was was gruff but in the best way. I can't wait til the next book comes out.
I have to admit not my normal genre, but boy was I sucked into this novel.
Really well written, great storyline, I could actually visualise the town, the quest, the pools etc.
This journey was one that was seemingly long in timeline, but in actuality a mere couple of months. The characters were just perfect, Anya is our light and Idris our suffering MMC. I loved the way their story unfolded, as with any brilliant storyline it is not always calm waters. They had so much to contend with, both individually and separately.
I LOVED this book. I was just so satisfied with the interesting world, plot, and magic system, not to mention the banter (I laughed out loud at parts) and the build up of tension between the characters (I squealed in delight). I feel like a lot of fantasy books have the same archetype of what a female main character is, but this FMC felt fresh and individual. She was so relatable in a lot of ways and it was great to see her come into her own as the book went on. I just loved every minute of the book and immediately started googling the author after to find out what else I could read and when the next book in the series comes out.
3.9/5 ⭐️ (enjoyed reading, only had minor flaws) 3/5 🌶️ (slow to quick burn, open door)
Main themes: - Magic (including scent magic) - Altered fate - Gentlemanly MMC - Secret knightship - Monsters - Forced proximity - Strangers to lovers - FMC is 29, MMC is 35 - Banter
No spoilers review: Anya is from a quant village and runs an inn. She’s the go-to of the town for help, and one fateful day a monster hunter knocks on her door in need of aid. From then on her fate becomes intwined with this mystery man who is bound by oath to keep realm secrets. Much of the book is about their journey through the lands where they come across many people, monsters, and slowly open up to each other. It finishes with a resolved ending, but intros into the next book/rest of the series where we follow Anya’s best friend and her adventure. Overall it’s a feel-good read with monster fights, character growth, and whimsical settings. The only reason I’m knocking it below 4 stars is due to some of the writing (which I explain in my spoiler review below), and since it was a single book for this couple things moved fast and some details left more to be desired and explained.
Spoiler(!!!) review: I have to start by mentioning the fact that the there’s a convo where they talk about “the vibes” the MMC had…took me right out of the story. It sounds way too modern for this magical fantasy book. Thankfully it never popped up again but I always cringe when modern phrases are used. I want to feel like I’m taken to a different time! The human’s magic and the lord/ruler system was never really explained. We get an explanation for the mirrors but nothing on how everyone has some type of magic, and we have no backstory on the Lord and how he came to rule. I wish those would have been more clear. I LOVEEEE Idris’s manners and the way he treated Anya. It was the right amount of sweet. It felt like a slow burn even though it was fast because of everything fitting into one book! Honestly I hope him and Anya make appearances in later books because I loved their characters. I was a tad disappointed when the book concluded and it sounded like they were just going to ignore the world and live in their own bubble!
Found out about her book, Fates Dangerous Fortune on TikTok. I picked this book up three days ago and have not wanted to put it down.
If you like romance, you will love this book. If you like a little bit of magic without all the fae, you will love this book. If you want to finally read a book where the FMC is an actual adult (almost 30) with a smart mouth, intelligence, and a little bullheadedness to boot, you will love this book. And, if you like being able to pronounce the names of the characters, this one is really for you.
This is a great slow burn/forced proximity that seems natural and not forced. I loved falling in love with the characters just as they fell in love with one another.
And the best part, if you have Kindle Unlimited… it’s free!
— Spoilers to follow —
Following an inn keeper who was about to cement her fate by turning 30, convinces her “it’s complicated” in joining her at the festival where they get to see their fights. Some wild truths come out, the most mild of which are that Mr. Complicated is trash (I shouldn’t have been, but I was actually shocked), apparently our mundane FMC is gonna murder people and has to go answer for her future crimes.
Along the way she is being led to the big city by Mr. Broody Knight Man who treats her like a person and not a prisoner. Of course at first they aren’t all happy go lucky, but they eventually start to grow on each other. Bada-bing bada-boom… love… and love making.
Then reality crashes on them, because why can’t people just bump uglies without someone getting in the way. This causes our FMC to go out on her own adventure, after our MMC breaks her heart trying to save her (boys just can’t help themselves I guess), and she holds her own but almost doesn’t make it. Our MMC realizes he’s an idiot, chances after our girl, and shows up right in the nick of time sealing both their fates….
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I really enjoyed this sweet, cozy romantasy! The worldbuilding was refreshingly perfect so I could easily visualize all the quaint little towns and the charming scenery. The warmth of all the townsfolk added such a whimsical feel that it did remind me of a Shire-like world from The Hobbit. It’s perfect for you if you’re looking for a shorter fantasy romance without heavy high stakes or the dreaded long separation/amnesia arc that can take over whole series.
Things I Loved: The story had just the right amount of adventure and intrigue, with monsters, twists, and surprises that kept me reading way too late into the night (zero regrets). The forced proximity, the one horse/one bed/one tent, and the grumpy knight with impeccable manners tropes were all wonderfully done.
I connected quickly with the main characters and was completely immersed in their journey. Finally, a FMC (and her BFF) who feels relatable and likable! I loved the banter and the slow burn, making the spicy scene worth the wait. I hoped there would be more spice in the book, but thank goodness for the bonus chapter! 💖
Nicola Victory’s writing style is smooth and enjoyable. I can’t wait to read more from her-hopefully SOON!
Minor Things I Didn’t Love: -Early on, there’s a part where Anya and Hattie talk about “vibes” that startled me. I like when the language matches the setting, and that wording didn’t feel right for this pre-modern, fantasy world. It was the only time I noticed a mismatch, but it did take me a while to recover from it and settle back into the story. -I do wish this could have been lengthened a bit to include more development around the magic system and everyone’s gifts, plus more from Anya and Idris after their adventure before the book wrapped up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I absolutely devoured this book within a day. I don’t usually write reviews but it was everything I ever wanted in a book. Literally, it ticked all of the boxes, except that I need a second (or more) book about Idris and Anya like, immediately. I absolutely love their dynamic and the lightheartedness and genuine care for each other was so so refreshing.
It definitely gave me „DnD adventure but add heartwrenching yearning“ or the Witcher but with genuinely good, funny and relatable people. It satisfied my heart for fantasy, adventure and romance all at once without convoluting the story with unnecessary tropes or toxicity. ❤️
“Anya, for the longest time, my life was bound to monsters. Now, it’s bound to a sweeter Fate.” He squeezed her hips, willing her to understand, to listen carefully in spite of the desire building between them. “This is the last Oath I’ll ever take, Dearest, so listen closely.” A smile teased his lips as he stared into her fire-bright eyes. “I, Idris Togren, hereby take the Oath of the Order of Devotion, pledging my love and worship. You are my Fortune, and I will remain beside you until Death.”
I love a broody knight and this book certainly delivered that. This book started out strong, I really enjoyed the premise and the kinds of magic inherent to all and those bestowed only upon knights. I feel the whole explanation towards the end was a bit weak, which didn't spoil the enjoyment of the book, it just took me out the story a little. I would definitely continue the series, I enjoyed the world and it's characters
This book was darling. While it was a Romantasy with adventure, monsters, and magic - It was a very cozy read. I throughly enjoyed the FMC and MMC. It was a refreshing break from high fantasy. I really enjoyed Idris’ quiet wit and Anya’s love for her home. I was completely sucked in and I’m quickly moving on to Hattie’s story in the next book.
Wow. 30 year old MMC and almost 30 year old FMC?? Be still my heart!! This author reminds me a lot of T King Fisher’s protagonists, but also with very rich world building. The Fate concept was hard to grasp at times, especially with fates being muddled or inaccurate when monsters come into play, but I think that might be explained more in the second book. 5/5 yearning.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I really enjoyed the premise and unique magic system in this one. It felt cozy at times, but it still had me on the edge of my seat. The banter and romance between the characters had me laughing out loud and swooning. It's a breath of fresh air in the romantasy genre, and I CAN'T wait for book two!
If you’re looking for a cosy book to suck you into a world of magic, knights, oaths and romance - this is for you!
This book ticked all the boxes in 350 pages.
The plot follows quick witted and capable Anya as she embarks on a quest to change her fate as a would-be-murder with the deliciously broody knight, Idris.
As female leads go, Anya is one of my favourites. Her awareness of self, quippy banter and sense of self resonates with anyone who has ever been the “strong one”. Idris’ stoic nature coupled with his growth throughout the book feels like a warm hug.
I’m normally tentative about books being compared to some of my personal favourite world in the Witcher and Lord of the Rings. I was pleasantly surprised with how much the enjoyed being brought into Waldron-on-Wend and Fenrir.
This book was such a cute and cozy romance/fantasy! It was an easy read and the world building wasn’t too overwhelming. The romance was perfect as well! Idris and Anya’s chemistry sucks you right in!
This was a fun and adventurous read! I instantly fell in love with the main characters (especially the mmc) and truly enjoyed every moment of their adventure. Can’t wait for book 2!!
I really enjoyed this book. The story, while having some cozy elements, was an adventurous, poignant, journey and I’m looking forward to the next book.
I'm pretty sure I was recommended this book through a KU on Facebook advertisement. I LOVED this book. It has good spice, monsters, and romance! it was a fun read!
What is fortune? How set is fate? These are very important questions in the world of Fate’s Dangerous Fortune.
Cheery innkeeper Anya has lived her whole life in the town of Waldron-on-Wren and her goal in life is to be well liked and useful. Definitely the last person you’d expect to become a murderer. Even if the victim was lying to her and leading her on. Still, she would never *murder* someone for that.
This is the situation Anya finds herself in when the mirrors of Fortune and Death show her to be a future murder. Now she is being taken with other future criminals to the capital city to stand trial for her future crime. That is until more fate intervenes and the rest of her travel part killed by strange vicious monsters, and she ends up traveling alone for weeks with the strange knight, Idris. Who she saw drowning her in her mirror of death.
I absolutely love this book and world. I have trouble tracking complicated world building, especially when it's all dumped on me at the beginning of a book or in huge texts to the main character. The world building pacing of this book is great for me as it starts as a more generic fantasy world with its own twists. I absolutely love the premise that there are mirrors that show your fortune and fate, and until your 30th birthday, both are changeable. In addition all people in the world have some sort of sense magic - touch, sight, smell, taste, or hearing. These are used in unique ways and again, feel like something both new and easy to understand.
Romance wise we have so much yearning and pining! When the set up is that one is fated to kill the other, that's definitely a hard foundation to start a relationship. Still, forced to travel alone together for three weeks, there is lots of time for them to realistically get to know each other and a relationship to start building.